A former campaign spokesman for President Bola Tinubu in the southeast, Josef Onoh, has declared that the Nigerian leader was instrumental in financing and strategising Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential campaign.
Onoh was reacting to recent comments by Boss Mustapha, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who said Buhari’s long-standing 12 million northern votes were solely responsible for his victory, while the merger parties only contributed an additional three million votes.
Mustapha made the remarks during the launch of a book by Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesperson, in Abuja.
In a statement on Thursday, Onoh said Mustapha’s comments were inaccurate and dismissed the significant role played by Tinubu in building a winning coalition.
His words: “Prior to 2015, Buhari’s political vehicles like ANPP and CPC lacked the national structure to challenge the PDP.
“It was Tinubu, as leader of the ACN, who engineered the merger with CPC, a faction of APGA and the New PDP. That gave the APC national reach and made Buhari electable.”
He said Buhari’s inability to win in 2003, 2007, and 2011 was due to his lack of support in southern Nigeria.
He stated: “In 2015, Buhari polled 15.4 million votes to defeat Goodluck Jonathan, who scored 12.8 million. The additional 3.4 million votes that secured the win were largely due to Tinubu’s influence in the southwest.
“Beyond vote delivery, Tinubu provided campaign finances, strategic planning, and national outreach. He ensured Buhari emerged as APC candidate despite opposition from political heavyweights like Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso.”
Onoh noted that Tinubu’s network also played a major role in logistics, media engagement and mobilising grassroots support during the election.
He said: “The 2015 election was one of the most expensive in Africa. Tinubu’s political network helped fund and coordinate the campaign nationwide.
“In 2018, when some APC chieftains defected, including Atiku and Bukola Saraki, Tinubu held the southwest together and kept the party intact.”
He challenged Mustapha to a public debate and urged critics to verify his claims from Tinubu himself.
“If anyone doubts me, they can go and verify from President Tinubu. The facts are there.
“Boss Mustapha may be an expert in chewing bitter kola, but that doesn’t make him a political strategist like President Tinubu,” he added.
