Former media aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has dismissed allegations made against his former boss by ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal.
Akande said the claims were false, adding that records from the Muhammadu Buhari administration contradict Lawal’s allegations.
The former presidential spokesperson, who served under Buhari for eight years, said he was responding because he was directly involved in some of the decisions being questioned.
Lawal had said that late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari saw it as immoral and distasteful for Osinbajo to contest against Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
Lawal said Buhari could not have backed Osinbajo against Tinubu because of his longstanding relationship with Tinubu.
In a statement titled “A Response to Mr. Babachir Lawal’s Falsehoods Against Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON,” Akande said he had to respond because he witnessed many of the events and was part of the office whose appointments were being questioned.
“I have watched the video in which former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, made a string of allegations against former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Ordinarily, such fabrications would not deserve a response.
“But I served as the Vice President’s spokesperson. I was in the room where many of these decisions were taken. And the allegations touch directly on the staff of the Office of the Vice President — of which I was a part. For the sake of the record, facts only must be stated,” Akande said.
‘You lied’ – Osinbajo’s ex-aide, Akande blasts Babachir Lawal