Ojudu Reveals How He Persuaded Tinubu to Reject Yar’Adua’s Finance Minister Offer
Former President Babafemi Ojudu has revealed how he and key allies, including former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, persuaded President Bola Tinubu to decline an offer to become the Minister of Finance in the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s government of unity.
In an appearance on the State Affairs podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, Ojudu shared an insightful and candid recounting of the moment Tinubu received the offer. He said, “Tinubu called me one day and said, ‘Congratulations to me.’ I asked, ‘Congratulations for what?’ He then told me that President Yar’Adua had asked him to join his government as the Minister of Finance.”
Ojudu immediately warned Tinubu about the political dangers of accepting such an offer, citing the tragic fate of Bola Ige, a former Minister of Justice. “I told him, ‘You are in the Action Congress. Are you not a student of history? Do you not see what happened to Bola Ige? You are digging your political grave if you accept that type of job.’”
Adding to this, Rauf Aregbesola, who was a close ally of Tinubu, strongly supported Ojudu’s advice. “Rauf walked in and said, ‘Femi is right; that is not a job to take,’” Ojudu recalled.
However, not everyone agreed with their caution. A businessman in the room argued that accepting the role would be beneficial to everyone. Ojudu, however, remained resolute. “I insisted, ‘No, we are not looking for this type of benefit. We are looking for his political survival. He is our leader. Our dream for him is bigger than him becoming a minister in Yar’Adua’s government. Nine months down the line, they would arrest him, try him, and finish him off—the way they did to Bola Ige.’”
Reflecting on the 2023 election, Ojudu addressed accusations of betraying Tinubu by supporting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo instead of his fellow party member. Ojudu clarified, saying, “It is not personal; it is about our visions taking different routes.”
He further explained, “We cannot quarrel. I just came from Bayo Onanuga’s daughter’s wedding. People saw me and said, ‘We never knew you would come around.’ But it is all about the future of our country, and sometimes vision leads to divergent paths.”
