How Myself, Aregbesola Paved Way For Tinubu’s Presidential Ambition – Ojudu

 

Babafemi Ojudu, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed the crucial role he and the immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, played in shaping President Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

In a recent interview on the State Affairs podcast, Ojudu recounted how they convinced Tinubu to reject a ministerial appointment in late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s government, a decision that ultimately paved the way for his rise to the presidency in 2023.

Ojudu recalled, “Tinubu called me one day and said, ‘Congratulations to me.’ When I asked why, he revealed that Yar’Adua had invited him to join his cabinet as Minister of Finance. I immediately cautioned him, reminding him of the tragic fate of Bola Ige, who was assassinated while serving as a federal minister.”

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At the time, Tinubu was the leader of the Action Congress (AC), a prominent opposition party. Ojudu warned that accepting the ministerial role could jeopardize Tinubu’s political future. “You are digging your political grave if you accept that type of job,” he advised.

According to him, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, a former Governor of Osun State and Tinubu’s ally, joined the conversation and supported Ojudu’s stance. “Femi is right; that is not a job to take,” Aregbesola reportedly said, emphasising the potential risks.

Despite some dissenting opinions within Tinubu’s circle, including a businessman who argued that accepting the role could yield immediate benefits, Ojudu and Aregbesola remained resolute. They believed Tinubu’s long-term political ambitions were at stake.

“He is our leader,” Ojudu explained. “Our dream for him is bigger than him becoming a minister in Yar’Adua’s government. Nine months down the line, they would arrest him, try him, and finish him off — the way they did to Bola Ige.”

Ultimately, Tinubu heeded their advice and declined the offer, a decision that arguably safeguarded his political trajectory and paved the way for his eventual rise to the presidency in 2023.