• Home
  • Stories
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health
      Bill Gates

      Next pandemic will be man-made, deadly – Bill Gates warns

      BMGF takes giant leap, expands Board as Econet Billionaire Masiyiwa makes the cut

      Does our foundation have too much influence? Here’s how I see it

      The doctor pronounced him dead in the car, they did not remove the corpse, they did not separate his wife fro him -Osita Chidoka

      The doctor pronounced him dead in the car, they did not remove the corpse, they did not separate his wife fro him -Osita Chidoka

      If you are a doctor planning Japa to the UK, you may end up in salve camp, says BBC report

      If you are a doctor planning Japa to the UK, you may end up in salve camp, says BBC report

      Good News: Nigerian Doctors suspend strike

      Good News: Nigerian Doctors suspend strike

      CAN, JNI meet Fed. Govt to reverse downward nutrition trend in Nigeria

      CAN, JNI meet Fed. Govt to reverse downward nutrition trend in Nigeria

      FG approves three additional orthopaedic hospitals

      FG approves three additional orthopaedic hospitals

    • Security
    • Travel
  • World
  • Africa
  • Humans of Abuja
  • Investigation
  • Development
  • Contact
Infactng
  • Home
  • Stories
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health
      Bill Gates

      Next pandemic will be man-made, deadly – Bill Gates warns

      BMGF takes giant leap, expands Board as Econet Billionaire Masiyiwa makes the cut

      Does our foundation have too much influence? Here’s how I see it

      The doctor pronounced him dead in the car, they did not remove the corpse, they did not separate his wife fro him -Osita Chidoka

      The doctor pronounced him dead in the car, they did not remove the corpse, they did not separate his wife fro him -Osita Chidoka

      If you are a doctor planning Japa to the UK, you may end up in salve camp, says BBC report

      If you are a doctor planning Japa to the UK, you may end up in salve camp, says BBC report

      Good News: Nigerian Doctors suspend strike

      Good News: Nigerian Doctors suspend strike

      CAN, JNI meet Fed. Govt to reverse downward nutrition trend in Nigeria

      CAN, JNI meet Fed. Govt to reverse downward nutrition trend in Nigeria

      FG approves three additional orthopaedic hospitals

      FG approves three additional orthopaedic hospitals

    • Security
    • Travel
  • World
  • Africa
  • Humans of Abuja
  • Investigation
  • Development
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Infactng
No Result
View All Result

True story: How I brought Osinbajo to Tinubu-Bayo Onanuga

June 6, 2022

By Bayo Onanuga

The spokesperson for the Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidential campaign , Bayo Onanuga has come out to reveal he was the one who introduced Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 1999 when he was newly elected as governor of Lagos state.

See story unedited below:

Tinubu and Osinbajo: The true story of how they met

I never wanted to write this story but I was inspired to do so today, following Buba Galadima’s interview with the Punch on Monday. Buba struck a chord when he spoke about the issue of trust in the relationship between Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

You think Osinbajo should have given up his presidential ambition for loyalty to Tinubu?, Buba was asked.

He replied: “If he doesn’t, can you now trust him? If you look at how Osinbajo came with Tinubu and he’s now contesting against Tinubu who brought him, how safe would you be to work with such a person?

“If the man who did all this to someone who made him commissioner, made him this, made him that and he is now fighting him. You will now want to fight for him now, what would be your status later in life with him?”.

Just like Buba, I feel strongly that Osinbajo has grossly violated the trust that ordinarily should exist between him and Tinubu.

Contrary to the stories in the social media, I was the one God used to bring Osinbajo into Tinubu’s circle in January 1999.

Tinubu and Osinbajo

Tinubu had just won the election as governor of Lagos State and days after, we met on the 6th floor of Kresta Laurel at Maryland, which Otunba Gbenga Daniel donated for our use. On this day, Tinubu shared with us some of the ‘certain’ appointments he intended to make. Those who were at the meeting were Otunba Daniel, Dele Alake and I. Tinubu sat at the head of the table as he said he would make Rafiu Tinubu the Lagos State Head of Service. We argued over this and he justified the planned appointment by saying that Rafiu, who is now late, was a senior permanent secretary in the Lagos Civil Service.

“Attorney-General will be Bayo Oriola”, Tinubu said.

I shot back and said: ” I have a better person for you”, my exact words. Tinubu was startled by my interjection.

“Who is that,” he asked.

“He is a Law Professor and the man who drafted our company’s MOU. He crafted it in a brilliant way that protected us from the founding partners. Without this, the other shareholders would have thrown us out”, I explained.

I also said Osinbajo had worked with Prince Bola Ajibola, who was the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice under President Babangida.

Dele and Otunba Daniel did not oppose my nomination, surprisingly. Tinubu also appeared eager to meet the “wonder lawyer” that I have just sold to him, to replace a man, who had served as the lawyer to the campaign.

“Go and bring him”, Tinubu said.

Before the meeting ended, Tinubu also settled on his nominee for Information Ministry. It was to be Dele Alake and I said I would return to my office to continue journalism.

After the meeting, I went to Osinbajo’s house in Ogudu to invite him to meet the new governor, Bola Tinubu. I remember entering the apartment from the kitchen. The wife was there when I delivered the message and left the house with him, later.

I have never published this story before and hereby want to apologise to my namesake Bayo Oriola, for blocking what should have rightly been his entitlement, going by the role he played during the campaign. I hope Oriola would have the heart to forgive me.

This event happened 23 years ago. Thus a few days ago, I asked Alake to fill the memory gap. Here is what he sent to me from the U.S.

“I remember that day very well. I had actually mentioned Jebby ( Osinbajo’s nickname) to Asiwaju before that meeting. He said we’ll see. You can ask Asiwaju himself. Which was why I didn’t object when you mentioned him at the meeting because it reinforced what I had told him.

“My mentioning Jebby’s name was solely because we were classmates in Igbobi college – same classroom, together with Tunde Fowler, Ade Ashekun, (the one he made ambassador to Canada) and Tunde Durosinmi Etti, former Commissioner under Ambode. Jebby and I were also attending the same church, Baptist Sheperd Hill Obanikoro, and his father’s house in Obanikoro not far from my dad’s house in Pedro road at the back of the church.

“After you mentioned his name that day , Asiwaju still asked Gbenga Daniel again and Gbenga also okayed him.

” Asiwaju knows all these. You were the one that mentioned him openly at the meeting while I had mentioned him a day or two before in private and Asiwaju again confirmed his name from Daniel.

“When Asiwaju told me he also asked about him from Daniel I then told him that Daniel, myself and yourself were contemporaries in UNILAG and he laughed that we were doing Akoka solidarity”.

Looking back now, did I regret what I did in January 1999. Yes, I would say I have some regret, especially since my action hurt Bayo Oriola. And my apology to Oriola once again. I could not have foreseen today’s turn of events between Tinubu and Osinbajo, who I nominated to be justice commissioner.

Share121Tweet76Share30
INFACTNG

INFACTNG

Related Posts

2023: Tinubu seeks support from APC Govs, says he has no political son
Politics

Atiku talks tough: Win your pooling unit or forget appointments, contracts

January 19, 2023

Atiku Abubakar By Ademola Adeleye Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who desires to get appointments or contracts if the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar wins the presidential election will have to show proof that they won their pooling...

Bishop Kukah to Nigerians: Be wise, politicians are friends, don’t die for them
Politics

Tinubu, Atiku fume over Obasanjo’s endorsement of Peter Obi, say it’s worthless

January 2, 2023

By Ademola Adeleye The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council and the Atiku/Okowa campaign  are currently in a rage over the endorsement of Peter Obi by  Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo on new year’s day. Reacting to the...

Biafra: I will bring IPOB back to Nigeria -Peter Obi
Politics

Peter Obi is the man says Obasanjo, appeals to youths to take back the country

January 2, 2023

"The last seven and a half years have no doubt been eventful and stressful years for many Nigerians. We have moved from frying pan to fire and from mountaintop to the valley. Our leaders have done their best, but...

You’re on a suicide mission, Atiku’s camp tells G5 governors
Politics

You’re on a suicide mission, Atiku’s camp tells G5 governors

December 31, 2022

By Ademola Adeleye The Group of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (G5) governors who are standing against the chairman of the party, Iyorchai Ayu will be on a suicide mission if they support any other candidate apart from Atiku...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • 2023 Elections: NAF ready to airlift sensitive election materials January 26, 2023
  • Next pandemic will be man-made, deadly – Bill Gates warns January 25, 2023
  • SEGUN AYOBOLU: GRIT, QUALITY AND VERSATILITY ON DIAMOND EVE January 19, 2023
  • Winners emerge in WE YOU HAP political contest January 19, 2023
  • Atiku talks tough: Win your pooling unit or forget appointments, contracts January 19, 2023

Categories

  • Africa (12)
  • Agriculture (3)
  • Agriculture (12)
  • Arts & Culture (29)
  • Business (219)
  • Cover (22)
  • COVER STORY (51)
  • Development (25)
  • ENDSARS PROTESTS (39)
  • Features (10)
  • Health (79)
  • Humans of Abuja (5)
  • Investigation (8)
  • Law (15)
  • News (745)
  • Obituary (20)
  • Opinion (31)
  • Politics (167)
  • Security (181)
  • Stories (338)
  • Travel (6)
  • World (41)

Popular

  • Six years pregnancy: A Miracle too hard to believe

    Six years pregnancy: A Miracle too hard to believe

    465 shares
    Share 186 Tweet 116
  • Akindele Oluwaseun: ‘Crying Teacher’ who receive over N1m donation and gave it all out

    376 shares
    Share 150 Tweet 94
  • How first female combat Pilot was killed

    360 shares
    Share 144 Tweet 90
  • Army throws out ‘nosey’ editor from own platform

    359 shares
    Share 144 Tweet 90
  • AGRA’s Greatest Achievement Has Been to Give Farmers Choices – Andrew Cox

    369 shares
    Share 156 Tweet 89

  • Contact
  • News

© 2020 Infactng – Investigative Journalism

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Stories
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health
    • Security
    • Travel
  • World
  • Africa
  • Humans of Abuja
  • Investigation
  • Development
  • Contact