Details have emerged about how Vice President Yemi Osinbajo declined the role of Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) offered to him by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005.
A veteran journalist, Mustapha Ogunsakin, who addressed a press conference on Friday revealed how Osinbajo remained loyal to his then principal, former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by rejecting the role of the AGF.
Ogunsakin’s revelation is coming amidst mixed reactions which have continued to trail Osinbajo’s declaration to run for presidency in 2023.
Many had accused Osinbajo of betraying Tinubu by wrestling with his erstwhile boss to clinch the presidential seat in 2023. There have been personal attacks on the vice president by some political opponents trying to brand him a betrayer for contesting against his political benefactor.
However, Ogunsakin criticised the attacks on Osinbajo, saying that the Vice President stayed loyal to Tinubu even when the then number one citizen of the country offered him a role in his administration.
In his words, “In 2005, President Obasanjo invited Osinbajo to take appointment as the Attorney-General of the Federation after Chief Akin Olujimi left office.
“Obasanjo saw the sterling qualities and performance that Osinbajo had as Attorney General of Lagos.
“The president without informing Bola Tinubu, the then Lagos State Governor, offered the post to Osinbajo who was then Lagos State Attorney-General.
“The first thing Osinbajo did was to inform his principal, Tinubu, who gave him a free hand to take his decision,” Mr Ogunsakin said.
“Obasanjo replied that Osinbajo should first take the appointment and then advise him as Attorney-General of the Federation on the matter.
“Osinbajo went underground and for weeks Obasanjo could no longer reach him.
“It was obvious to the then president that Osinbajo deliberately avoided him; he went on to appoint Chief Bayo Ojo as his Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
“Osinbajo rejected the position of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and stayed with Tinubu; nobody complained then,” he added.
