Former presidential spokesperson Laolu Akande has recounted how President Bola Tinubu was allegedly marginalised by influential political figures before and after the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power in 2015, saying the President’s patience, organisation and political calculations eventually helped him secure the presidency in 2023.
Akande, who served as the media aide to former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, said he personally witnessed instances in which Tinubu was sidelined during political meetings, despite his influence and contributions to the political coalition that eventually produced the APC-led Federal Government.
“What did they not do against President Tinubu? Tell me. What did they not do before 2014, 2015, and even between 2015 and 2023? He was marginalised. I saw it with my own eyes,” Akande said.
He added that he attended meetings where Tinubu was deliberately relegated to the background, describing the experience as part of a prolonged period during which the former Lagos State governor had to contend with political opposition and exclusion.
“I sat in meetings where they put President Tinubu behind me. They marginalised the man,” he said.
According to Akande, Tinubu’s response to the alleged treatment was not to abandon his political ambitions or engage in a premature confrontation with his opponents, but to wait for the right opportunity and prepare for it.
“You know what he did? He just waited. He waited for his time,” the former presidential spokesperson said.
Akande’s account highlights the political tensions that characterised the relationship between Tinubu and some influential figures within the APC-led administration following the party’s historic victory in the 2015 presidential election.
The APC was formed in 2013 through a merger of opposition parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The coalition defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, ending its 16-year hold on the presidency.
Tinubu, a leading figure in the ACN and a key architect of the opposition coalition, became one of the central political figures in the merger. However, the distribution of influence within the new governing party and administration generated tensions among its major political stakeholders.
The former Lagos governor eventually emerged as the APC’s presidential candidate in June 2022 after defeating several aspirants, including former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at the party’s presidential primary.
He subsequently defeated Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the February 2023 presidential election, securing the presidency in a contest that was marked by intense political rivalry and controversy over the conduct and outcome of the polls.
Naira redesign controversy
Akande also pointed to the controversy surrounding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy in late 2022 and early 2023 as an example of Tinubu’s political response to developments that threatened his presidential ambition.
The policy, introduced under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and implemented by the CBN, involved the redesign of the ₦200, ₦500 and ₦1,000 banknotes. The limited availability of the new notes and the restrictions on the use of old currency triggered widespread cash shortages, public protests and political controversy in the weeks leading up to the 2023 general election.
Tinubu publicly criticised aspects of the policy during the election campaign, while his political camp argued that the currency restrictions were causing unnecessary hardship and could affect the electoral process.
Akande said Tinubu responded to the unfolding situation by organising politically and positioning himself to take advantage of the circumstances, rather than allowing the challenges to derail his ambition.
“He acted; he organised. That is what Atiku has failed to understand. And that’s why it’s so painful,” Akande said.
His remarks appeared to contrast Tinubu’s approach to political setbacks with that of Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president and PDP presidential candidate in 2023, who has continued to pursue his ambition of becoming Nigeria’s president.
Atiku, who lost the 2023 election to Tinubu, has remained a prominent figure in opposition politics and has been associated with efforts to build a broader political coalition ahead of future elections.
Akande’s comments suggest that, in his assessment, political success depends not only on the ability to withstand marginalisation but also on recognising opportunities, building alliances and organising effectively when circumstances become favourable.
Tinubu’s political journey from governor of Lagos State to president has been shaped by years of party-building, coalition politics and struggles for influence within Nigeria’s opposition and governing political structures.
For Akande, the lesson from that journey is that political setbacks do not necessarily determine the final outcome. Rather, patience, strategic organisation and the ability to act at a decisive moment can prove more consequential than the obstacles encountered along the way.