Buhari described Osinbajo ‘as man for the job’, supported presidential bid – Ojudu counters Omole

Former presidential aide, Babafemi Ojudu, has disclosed that late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari supported former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s presidential ambition in 2022.

Ojudu, who was Buhari’s Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of the Vice President, said Osinbajo discussed his presidential ambition with the ex-President four different times.

He made the revelation while condemning claims by Charles Omole, author of Buhari’s biography, ‘From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari’.

In the biography, Omole said Buhari refused to support Osinbajo’s ambition to succeed him in 2022 because he never knew him.

The book claimed that Buhari was aloof as to why Osinbajo wanted to contest against now President Bola Tinubu due to their political affiliation.

It quoted Buhari as saying: “I don’t know Osinbajo from anywhere; I met him only through Tinubu.”

Countering the revelations from the book, Ojudu disclosed that Buhari in one of his meetings with Osinbajo described him “as by far the best person for the job”.

In a statement he issued, Ojudu said: “The matter of whether Vice President Osinbajo should run for President was discussed directly and personally between him and President Muhammadu Buhari on no fewer than four separate occasions.

“On each of these occasions, President Buhari expressed clear, unequivocal support for the Vice President’s ambition.

“At no time, explicitly or implicitly, did President Buhari suggest that Professor Osinbajo should refrain from contesting.

“At no time did he indicate a preference that the Vice President should defer to, step aside for, or subordinate his ambition to any other aspirant, including the eventual nominee of the party.

“On the first occasion, President Buhari advised the Vice President to reflect carefully on the prospects of a presidential bid, make up his mind and assured him that he would support whatever decision he took.

“By the third discussion, President Buhari went further. In his considered judgment, he stated plainly that Professor Osinbajo was by far the best person for the job.”