Former media aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has dismissed allegations made against his former principal by ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.
Akande described the claims as false, arguing that records from the Muhammadu Buhari administration contradicted Lawal’s allegations.
The former presidential spokesperson, who served under Buhari for eight years, said he decided to respond because he was directly involved in some of the decisions being questioned.
Lawal had claimed that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari considered it immoral and distasteful for Osinbajo to contest against Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
He argued that Buhari could not have supported Osinbajo against Tinubu because of his longstanding relationship with the former Lagos State governor.
In a statement titled “A Response to Mr. Babachir Lawal’s Falsehoods Against Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON,” Akande said he felt compelled to respond because he witnessed many of the events in question and was part of the Office of the Vice President whose appointments were being discussed.
“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.
