The former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bayo Onanuga, has expressed his regrets for introducing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, in 1999.
Onanuga who is the current Spokesman for the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation made this known in an article released on Monday in Abuja.
He said that Tinubu picked Osinbajo from the classroom at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and made him Commissioner for Justice and the Attorney-General of Lagos state in 1999.
The veteran journalist said Tinubu included Osinbajo’s name as part of his cabinet in the presence of former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and former Lagos Commissioner for Information, Dele Alake.
Onanuga said that when he nominated Osinbajo and spoke highly of him, Tinubu asked him to invite the then UNILAG lecturer over.
According to him, “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.
“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.”
Onanuga said that Alake and the former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, also recommended Osinbajo to be nominated as the justice commissioner.
The former NAN boss added that Tinubu later nominated Osinbajo as the running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election which they won.
Read also:
Tinubu, Osinbajo Refuse to Step Down for Consensus Candidate
‘I Truly Regret Introducing Osinbajo to Tinubu’ – Bayo Onanuga
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