Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has recalled how trust between former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu helped strengthen the party ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Okechukwu said some members of Buhari’s camp were uncertain about Tinubu’s political intentions as the APC prepared for its presidential primary.
According to him, concerns were raised over whether Tinubu planned to contest for the presidency. However, Buhari reassured party members, saying Tinubu had personally informed him that he would not run.
“When some elements in Buhari’s camp, of which I was a member, asked if Tinubu could be trusted, Buhari replied, ‘If you’re doubting him, this man told me he is not running,'” Okechukwu said.
He said Buhari’s response eased tensions within the party and boosted confidence during a crucial stage of the APC’s formation. Okechukwu added that Tinubu honoured the commitment, describing it as an act of loyalty and sacrifice in support of the coalition’s shared objective rather than personal ambition.
