Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
At the recent launch of the IBB Library, Nigeria’s former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, delivered a speech that not only invoked historical memory but subtly repositioned his place in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape. His words, referencing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s past struggles for democracy, have stirred discourse on their shared history, political divergence, and the enduring weight of democratic ideals.
He was quoted as saying,
” When Babangida annulled the 1993 elections and Abacha took over, dissolving the Senate, one senator tried to reconstitute the Senate in resistance to the dissolution. He was detained, faced charges in court, and escaped into exile. Today, he is also here to celebrate with his former tormentors as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Osinbajo, once considered Tinubu’s protégé, enjoyed a meteoric rise in Nigerian politics under the tutelage of the former Lagos governor. His tenure as Vice President (2015–2023) saw him play a stabilizing role, often perceived as the intellectual and technocratic arm of the Buhari administration. However, their relationship took a bitter turn when both men contested the 2022 APC presidential primaries—a contest that ultimately saw Tinubu emerge as Nigeria’s leader.
Yet, the IBB Library launch presented Osinbajo with an opportunity to bridge old wounds and reaffirm his democratic stance. By recalling Tinubu’s exile following the annulment of the 1993 elections and subsequent military crackdown, Osinbajo subtly aligned himself with that same spirit of resistance. His remarks underscored the irony of time—how a former exile now leads the nation, standing alongside those who once opposed him.
The historical context is crucial. When General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993, elections—widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history—pro-democracy forces, including Tinubu, fought back. Abacha’s military regime responded with ruthless suppression, forcing several activists into exile. Osinbajo’s reference to these events was a calculated move, invoking a past that still resonates with Nigeria’s political elite and citizenry.
However, Osinbajo’s political trajectory differs from Tinubu’s. While Tinubu’s power base remains deeply entrenched in political machinery and grassroots mobilization, Osinbajo has cultivated an image of a statesman and policy-driven leader. His absence from Tinubu’s administration has fueled speculation about his political future—whether he will remain in active politics or transition into international advocacy and academia.
His speech at the IBB Library, however, signals that he is not retreating quietly. Whether this was an attempt to mend fences with Tinubu or to subtly carve out his own democratic legacy remains to be seen. What is clear is that Osinbajo understands the power of history—and, perhaps, the importance of ensuring he is on the right side of it.
In a country where political alliances shift with time, this moment may mark the beginning of a recalibrated Osinbajo, one who recognizes that, while he may have lost the APC primaries, the battle for legacy and influence is far from over.