Media entrepreneur and politician, Dele Momodu, has claimed that former President Muhammadu Buhari did not initially support President Bola Tinubu’s ambition to succeed him ahead of the 2023 general election.

Momodu made the assertion during an interview with Nevon HQ, where he reflected on political developments preceding the 2023 presidential election and the relationships among key figures within the former administration.

According to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, information available to him suggested that Buhari and some influential members of his administration were not in favour of Tinubu emerging as the ruling party’s presidential candidate and eventual president.

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Momodu also linked the alleged political differences within the Buhari administration to the challenges later faced by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

He claimed that Emefiele, Buhari and the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, belonged to the same political bloc that opposed Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

According to him, the disagreement created internal tensions within the government as preparations for the 2023 elections gathered momentum.

Momodu suggested that the political crisis eventually contributed to the difficulties experienced by Emefiele during and after the election period.

Despite the alleged resistance from some influential figures within the administration, Momodu noted that Tinubu ultimately secured victory in the presidential election and assumed office as Nigeria’s leader.

He described Tinubu’s emergence as an outcome he believes was destined to happen, while expressing his personal view that the President has not fully utilised the opportunity presented by his election.

“In the last election, my information is that Buhari did not initially want Tinubu at all. That’s what led Emefiele into the crisis he found himself in because he, Buhari and the Attorney General (Malami), who is also having a crisis now, were in the same clique that didn’t want Tinubu,” Momodu said.

He added, “But somehow Tinubu is a child of destiny, I believe, whether positive or negative, I don’t know, because he has mismanaged that opportunity given to him by God.”

The comments add to ongoing political discussions surrounding the events leading to the 2023 presidential election and the internal dynamics within the former Buhari administration. Neither Buhari, Emefiele nor Malami has publicly responded to Momodu’s claims.