Former presidential aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has revealed interesting information regarding President Buhari’s reaction upon hearing about Bola Tinubu’s “Emi Lokan” speech.
The information is derived from Adesina’s narrative in “Working with Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity (2015–2023),” his most recent book.
Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate at the time, made headlines in June 2022 when he said, “Emi Lokan,” while meeting with APC delegates in Ogun State. In Yoruba, Tinubu said, “It’s my turn.” He claimed that Buhari would not have won the 2015 presidential election if it weren’t for him.
Adesina revealed that President Buhari was abroad—attending an event in Spain—when Tinubu made these remarks. Adesina and other aides chose to brief Buhari on their return flight to Nigeria because they were worried about different interpretations getting to the President.
Sharing the moment of discovery, Adesina said, “On Friday, June 3, as the visit came to an end and we were about to head back home, social media went wild with reports from Nigeria about remarks made by APC National Leader and potential presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a public event in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“Asiwaju Tinubu made a number of statements, but one that particularly addressed President Buhari was that Buhari would not have been elected president in the first place and that it was now his time to lead. It’s my turn to speak in Yoruba, Emilokan.
“As the President’s principal aides, we faced a dilemma regarding how to inform the President of what had transpired, since it would not be appropriate for him to travel to Nigeria and be presented with conflicting accounts of what had happened, whether accurate or not.
“After consulting with myself, Ambassador Kazaure (SCOP), the President’s Chief Security Officer, Idris Ahmed Kasim, Mohammed Sarki Abba, Dr. Suhayb Rafindadi, Col. Yusuf Dodo, the Aide-De-Camp, and Special Assistant Tunde Sabiu, we determined that I should brief the President upon our flight to Abuja. The intention was to prevent him from receiving inconsistent and potentially warped renditions.
“A few minutes into the flight, I went up to the President and told him about a significant event that had occurred at home.”
In response, President Buhari reacted thoughtfully and quietly. “The President told me to go ahead,” Adesina said, continuing as he was always willing to listen. After I finished summarizing Emilokan’s speech, the President paused for a while before answering, “Asiwaju said all that? I appreciate you coming to brief me.
Social media users have been interpreting and discussing the “Emi Lokan” speech in a variety of ways. Tinubu’s campaign team felt that a clarification was required to address the developing story and stated that the candidate was not making fun of the President in any way.
President Buhari convened a meeting with all APC presidential contenders at the State House on June 4, 2022, following their arrival back in Nigeria on June 3.
Adesina observed that there was a clear allusion to “Emi Lokan,” but President Buhari refrained from saying so. Rather, he urged candidates to collaborate and forge an agreement in order to create a strong contender.
“On June 4, the following day, President Buhari met in person at the Villa with every APC presidential candidate. Emilokan was very much in the air, but believe the President, nothing about it was spoken.
Adesina continued, “He only urged the candidates to confer among themselves, forge a consensus, and produce a strong candidate who could win an election for the party.”
