'How Tinubu nominated Osinbajo as Vice President'



The Secretary to Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, on Thursday picked holes in the biography of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the author, John Paden, distorted facts and gave false account of how the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was nominated as Buhari’s running mate.



Bello, who played a prominent role in the emergence of Buhari’s running mate, said the process of Osinbajo’s nomination started immediately after Buhari emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate at the party National Convention held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on December 11, 2014.

In a statement he personally signed, Bello said the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, nominated Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate, adding that Paden’s account was not entirely true.

Paden had submitted in the book that Buhari chose Osinbajo despite much pressure from Tinubu, who was allegedly interested in the position.

But Bello said Nigerians were fed with half-truths by the author on how Osinbajo became the vice president, detailing how Tinubu summoned a meeting to decide who would be Buhari’s running mate the morning after the President emerged the APC candidate.

Bello named the party chieftains in attendance to include former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, former Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, Osinbajo and a renowned pastor.

He said: “I do not know how the author came about his story, but he totally got it wrong because what he wrote basically is based on falsehood that reeks of deliberate misinformation and mischief.”

He, thus, explained how he received a phone call from Asiwaju “to see him the morning after Buhari emerged the APC candidate.”

Bello added: “On my way to his house, I discovered that a car at a reasonable distance was that of former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, who was, ostensibly, heading towards Asiwaju’s house in Ikoyi.

“Asiwaju must have called him too for that task that could be explained underneath. As soon as we arrived, Asiwaju quickly asked us to join him in his car as we headed to a Guest House. At the Guest House, former APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Osinbajo and one renowned pastor joined us.

“At the meeting, Asiwaju related to us the urgent need to pick a vice presidential candidate for the APC. He advised that we immediately discard the idea of his being nominated for the vice-presidential slot as it was no longer possible to pick a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“This, he reasoned, made sense if indeed we were to be realistic in our bid to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election. He reasoned that what was important and imperative at that time was to look for a good Christian nominee to complement President Mohammadu Buhari.”
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  1. See them lie again. Wailing Wailers! Party of lies and deceit.
    Anyway Nigerians are no longer interested in your stories.The issue now is hunger starvation and hopelessness in the land. It is not about who nominated who or who was there. It shows that APC is a bunch of selfish power hungry people who were never interested in what they bring into leadership to improve the country but on how their parochial interests could be served.It is a pity!
    Change dole!
    Sai Baba!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fake Isiaka, it's certain that you're aggrieved and defeated, but the only thing i request you to imbibe henceforth is to pray for the leadership and this Nation, anything short of that, you'll be shortening your life span. My advise!

      Delete
    2. Genuine Anonymous! Wailing wailer. I can understand your disappoint and frustration. Sorry oo! You are one of those running around with brooms, trekking or donating their life savings. Sorry oo!
      Next time Baba Children want to go and observe UN proceedings they will call you. OK. Na hunger is your greatest problem now.sorry ...there is no food and no money or stipend to give unemployed youths as earlier promised. Companies are even sacking instead of employing Mr wailing wailer. Sorry oo!
      Change dole!
      Sai Baba!

      Delete
    3. Genuine Anonymous! Wailing wailer. I can understand your disappoint and frustration. Sorry oo! You are one of those running around with brooms, trekking or donating their life savings. Sorry oo!
      Next time Baba Children want to go and observe UN proceedings they will call you. OK. Na hunger is your greatest problem now.sorry ...there is no food and no money or stipend to give unemployed youths as earlier promised. Companies are even sacking instead of employing Mr wailing wailer. Sorry oo!
      Change dole!
      Sai Baba!

      Delete
  2. If this account is anything to go for, the question is did Buhari ever seen or read the manuscript of the book before the launching? If he read the book, why did he fail correct the author? If he did not read it, isn't it a confirmation that Buhari is an illiterate?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Why was Osibanjo In that meeting? He was relatively unknown in politics before his nomination. How come he was there from day one?

    ReplyDelete
  4. My people perished for lack of knowledge so says the good book. Everybody knew who picked Osinbajo but please it is irrelevant now as anonymous 1 said, we can only pray for our leaders now.

    ReplyDelete

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