Sule Lamido Claims Buhari Never Wanted Tinubu as President, Favored Another Candidate

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• Sule Lamido revealed that former President Buhari never wanted Bola Tinubu as his successor, preferring former Senate President Ahmed Lawan instead.
• Lamido claimed that Buhari also didn’t trust Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to take over the presidency, emphasising that Tinubu’s rise was due to his own efforts, not Buhari’s support.
• The remarks highlight the power struggles and complexities within Nigeria’s political leadership, with Tinubu’s victory seen as independent of Buhari’s influence.

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Sule Lamido Claims Buhari Never Wanted Tinubu as President, Favoured Another Candidate

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has made a bold statement about Nigeria’s political landscape. He revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari never wanted Bola Tinubu to succeed him as Nigeria’s leader.

Lamido also claimed that Buhari didn’t trust his vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, to take over the presidency. Instead, Buhari preferred former Senate President Ahmed Lawan as his successor.

Lamido made these remarks during an interview with the Tribune.

[quotation] Before the convention, Tinubu was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he boldly claimed it was his turn to rule Nigeria. Buhari, who never liked Tinubu, was simply watching. He had someone else in mind.[/quotation]

He added that Buhari’s preference for Lawan was “absurd” considering the political dynamics in Nigeria.

[quotation]“You’ve served eight years in the North, and you wanted another Northerner to lead for another eight years? That’s not going to happen in today’s Nigeria,” Lamido noted.[/quotation]

Lamido emphasised that Tinubu’s rise to the presidency was due to his own efforts, not Buhari’s support. [quotation]“Tinubu knows his victory wasn’t because of Buhari, so he owes him nothing,” Lamido stated.[/quotation]

Before the 2015 presidential election, rumours circulated that Buhari opposed Tinubu’s candidature in the All Progressives Congress (APC). During one of his campaigns, Tinubu famously declared, “Emi Lokan,” meaning “It’s my turn.”

Lamido’s claims add a new layer to the ongoing political discussions in Nigeria, highlighting the complexities and power struggles within the country’s leadership.