NewStats: 3,259,774 , 8,170,881 topics. Date: Monday, 26 May 2025 at 12:09 AM f6j40

By Babafemi Ojudu

I have seen a statement made by me, many years ago, to celebrate the 60th birthday anniversary of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu making the rounds. Yes I did make that statement. And more of such will come in my autobiography. We, together, have seen good days and bad days.

I and Bola Tinubu have come a long way and we have been there for each other. So let no one use my acknowledgment of his good deeds and my refusal not to him in his bid for Nigeria presidency to portray me as a betrayer.

Tinubu remains my leader and I will forever cherish him and the contributions he made to my Organisation during our fight against the military.

He however knows I don’t follow the herd. I make my choices based on very rigid parameters . He will tell you I am very Independent in my actions and ways.

As a third year university student my dad chose to be in NPN. I never considered the fact that he fed me and paid my school fees to him in a party I despised. I went to UPN and became a youth leader.

Tinubu will tell you that whatever and whoever Ojudu is committed to is in for 100 percent commitment. Reasons I did rather faced torture and possible death in General Sani Abacha’s detention than reveal certain things they wanted me to reveal about him.

The idea that everyone who has related with Tinubu and disagrees with him on this Presidential bid is a traitor and a betrayal is puerile. Many of us, his associates, were not made by him as you also want the world to believe.

We were already made before meeting him and in the cause of relating we gave one another a helping hand. As far back as 1992 when I came to know him I was already one of the editors of a popular news magazine with a good standing too in the civil society. I walked out of my job when our billionaire publisher (Chief MKO Abiola) requested I and my colleagues to apologize to General Ibrahim Babangida over a story critical of the regime. That was 1992.

When I left that job, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a man whom I was indebted to greatly (gave me a scholarship in my school days alongside King Sunny Ade) invested in my publishing platform (The News, publisher of PM news). The same one that was consequential in the battle to bring democracy back to Nigeria.

At the conclusion of that struggle, Chief Fawehinmi insisted we seat out politics. Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu disagreed with this notion, and I did as well. Against an obvious choice to blind loyalty, I went along with Senator Tinubu even serving severally in critical roles as he assumed the Governorship position. My actions angered Chief Gani so much he asked that I repay his investments. Guess what? I gladly did.

So if my principled stance against NPN, against IBB and against “siddon look” was not betrayal of my father, Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi respectively, why would my principled stance against our leader present ambition be.?
So, on this matter of 2023 I wish him well but I cannot in good conscience give him my or cast my vote for him in the coming primary. It is my right. I am above 60 years of age for God sake. I almost died seeking this inalienable democratic rights, held up in detention and severally tortured. Your god is not my god.

Let no one think he can browbeat or blackmail me to do what does not go with my conscience or my ideals. Enough of your phone threats and embarrassment of my family .

I know Tinubu. I respect and adore him. Many of his latter day ers do not even know him. If they do, they won’t resort to emotional and physical blackmail. When Tinubu decided to go against Afenifere and the Yoruba elders in 2003 by not ing President Olusegun Obasanjo, he wasn’t betraying the Yoruba nation or a traitor to Afenifere. He made a choice and history has been his judge. Let history be my own judge too. When he ed Chief Olu Falae against Chief Bola Ige , our respected leader, who fought for him to emerge candidate of Alliance for Democracy in Lagos, no one shouted betrayal.

For the irritants who have been sending threat messages to me and of my family or calling to abuse me for not ing Tinubu, do know that is not democracy. It is something else. I spent my youth years fighting autocracy and intolerance of the military and I am still willing and ready, even now, to stand up for what I believe , even if it will cost me my life. Enough said.

_Senator Babafemi Ojudu writes from Abuja _

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10161569198784689&id=820579688

That is the truth of the matter

Ebunoluwa2020:
Many of us, his associates, were not made by him as you also want the world to believe.

We were already made before meeting him and in the cause of relating we gave one another a helping hand.

I hope some ers will take their time to read everything Ojodu wrote there.

Osinbajo and Ojudu should call some of Prof's ers who are attacking Tinubu to order. Politics doesn't have to degenerate to rofo rofo fight because there'll still be life after politics.

It's not a crime if Prof chooses to contest against Asiwaju, but it doesn't have to degenerate into the type of slugfest that some Osinbajo ers are making it into.

There's a particular group that calls itself Osinbajo Group that I suspect is a peopled by PDP ers, that has been attacking Tinubu for aspiring for the presidency as if it is not within his right to do so. Ojudu and Prof should call such people to order.

Who is asking ojudu about all this things he is saying sef

This man dey talk too much abegi

In all these 2023 permutations and discussions, what is the fate of our Eastern brothers?

Only Lagosians will vote for Tinubu in 2023

I rather vote for a goat clothed in a human form than vote for jagaband

.

No news without Tinubu nowadays

Ebunoluwa2020:
By Babafemi Ojudu
Let no one think he can browbeat or blackmail me to do what does not go with my conscience or my ideals. Enough of your phone threats and embarrassment of my family .
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10161569198784689&id=820579688

Babafemi Ojodu, if truly, this is who you are, you be correct man!

Only few were born not to follow the crowd! Only few, stand out!

Tinubu never win blackmailing and threat don start!

When he eventually wins, na thuggery go finish Nigeria!

Let the power play continue.

One thing is sure, the one who plays right the most will win.

I am here, observing!

I said what I said

Na man you be.

Your sense of reason is wired , taking this decision is obvious you want to leave a good legacy behind.


Principled Political Choices are not Betrayal


You have taken a good decision and heavenly blessed decision

Tinubu is supposed to be apologizing to Nigerians for what he did to them and asking for forgiveness...

No permanent friends or enemies in politics, only permanent interest

This is just the beginning for Bola Escobar

Hhmmm

“Many of us, his associates, were not made by him as you also want the world to believe.”

This statement actually touched me ?
People that have carved niches for themselves are made to hide under the shadow of Tinubu? So pathetic

During the NADECO days
We know those who fought the military but all glory was given to Tinubu

He acted like he paid the school fees of osinbajo from his mother’s womb ?

Was it a crime to help you govern as a commissioner?
Now he is being tagged a traitor ?
Thanks ojudu

God bless Senator femi Ojodu and senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Simply put! Let every man follow his conscience!

"...Let no one think he can browbeat or blackmail me to do what does not go with my conscience or my ideals. Enough of your phone threats and embarrassment of my family ...."

Tinubu urchins doing what Tinubu urchins know how to do best is violence and threats, you can see this by the massive amounts of agberos in Lagos state smoking Colorado and Arizona while walking and shouting bare chested on major roads. If they can abuse and threaten Ojudu who is a respectable and upstanding member of their society then who are you as an Igbo or Ijaw man or indeed any minority ? Prepare for the insults of Tinubu urchins, that's the way their parents raised them

Felabrity:
Only Lagos Ian's will vote for Tinubu in 2023

Wailer spotted

When Tinubu decided to go against Afenifere and the Yoruba elders in 2003 by not ing President Olusegun Obasanjo, he wasn’t betraying the Yoruba nation…

He made a choice and history has been his judge. Let history be my own judge too.

Ok

There are so many of his kind with same motive but not bold enough to speak up.. the polls would tell eventually.

Professor Osinbajo has some serious loyalist who truly love him

Pastor EA Adeboye would also keep quiet and sit on the fence

.

Sonnobax15:

I rather vote for a goat clothed in a human form than vote for jagaband

well said

abeg anything wey concern 2023 election I no dey read em.. this country don turn to bend down settle for this politicians eyes..

Pls stop selling this old stuff to me ......i need a young president....

So Wrong am not buying this ....