Osun former Gov Bisi Akande in his autobiography has stirred some ruckus by uncovering things formerly hidden in the power play that has defined Nigeria’s return to democracy since 1999.
In the over 500 page book, the APC former interim chairman reveals the roles play by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, northern aristocrats, The Afenifere, and many others.
A section of the book relates how the pan-Yoruba group got in political romance with the PDP, and how some of its leaders, Sir Ajayi Oliwun, Pa Ayo Adebano, Dr. Olu Falae, are mere jobbers.
He said the old Afenifere and PDP coalition was fronted by these three men and General Obasanjo.
“Chief Adebanjo, the most vociferous of them, is a blank politically-minded leader who recognises readily and always that he never has what it takes to aspire for high political positions,” Akande writes.
“He constantly harbours lumps of yellow hate-bile in his heart for any co-political leader with brighter chances for any major public office within or outside his political party.
Akande noted how Adebanjo detests all past governors produced by parties in the southwestern region since the UPN days, and the 93-year-old proudly expresses the hatred in his regular pontifications.
“I always passed him for a mere political agitator among the old local party paid canvassers euphemistically called ‘organising secretaries’,” AKnade said.
Akande further alleged that Adebanjo forced Tinubu to build a house for him in the Lekki area of the state.
“One day, Sir Olaniwun was launching a book at Muson Centre, Lagos. After the book presentation, Tinubu said I should not go and that he would like to see me. We met in a small room where he also invited Sir Olaniwun Ajayi. ‘Papa, you can see that this document is old, Tinubu said as he handed over a big envelope to Ajayi. This is your C of O (Certificate of Occupancy)!’
“Tinubu told me later that after he presented Adebanjo’s C of O to him, Adebanjo was always pestering Tinubu until he helped built a house on the plot. The street was also named in honour of Adebanjo and he is living in that house now at Lekki Phase One,” Akande said.
Adebanjo hardly speaks well of Tinubu, especially because of the Lagos former governor alliance with the north, and President Muhammadu Buhari in particular.