Obasanjo prevented Tinubu from becoming Buhari’s running mate in 2015 – Former Governor of Osun state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola

Former Governor of Osun state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola has spoken about how former President Olusegun Obasanjo stopped former Governor of Lagos state and national chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu from being President Buhari’s running mate in 2015.

Oyinlola who spoke in an interview with Punch, said the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket was concealed from party leaders until Buhari became APC’s presidential candidate in 2014.

The former Governor said Obasanjo spoke against it even though President Buhari defended it on grounds of governing with Tunde Idiagbon as Military head of state. 

He added that Obasanjo cautioned that the sensibilities of Nigerians should not be taken for granted.

Oyinlola said; 

“The agreement was concealed from a good number of the party leaders until it surfaced after Buhari had got the ticket. 

“Then the rumour came out and some us felt danger was looming with the idea of Muslim-Muslim ticket. To further add to our fears, General Buhari on one occasion said there was nothing wrong in the Muslim-Muslim presidential arrangement, saying after all he governed with Tunde Idiagbon

“That statement made us to know it (the Muslim-Muslim idea) was a fact. On two occasions, Bola (Tinubu) mentioned it in my presence that they agreed. If you recall one trending video back then, where it was said that Buhari had jettisoned what they agreed on, that is the room he was sleeping when Buhari was looking for the post.

“We then told Baba (Obasanjo). We told him that taking power from an incumbent government was a tough task and we must not give room for excuses and miss the target. We told him they (Buhari and Tinubu) were thinking of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“That was when Baba (Obasanjo) said people should not take the sensibilities of Nigerians for granted.

“After that (Obasanjo’s intervention), they started saying it in my presence that Obasanjo frustrated the plan to get Tinubu on the ticket for 2015 but I always acted as if I didn’t hear them. We then had a stakeholders meeting where the issue of the running mate was discussed again.”