Tinubu and Osinbajo Reunite in Tanzania

By Achimi Muktar

In a surprising turn of events, President Bola Tinubu and his former political rival, Yemi Osinbajo, crossed paths on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The high-profile reunion took place on the sidelines of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, sparking curiosity about the nature of their interaction.

For years, the relationship between the two political heavyweights has been the subject of intense speculation. Osinbajo, Nigeria’s former vice president, once served under Tinubu as Lagos State’s justice commissioner between 1999 and 2007. It was Tinubu’s influence that reportedly paved the way for Osinbajo’s rise to the vice presidency in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, their bond was tested when they both vied for the APC’s 2023 presidential ticket, a contest that saw Tinubu emerge victorious. Since then, Osinbajo has largely remained on the sidelines of APC activities.

Their unexpected meeting in Tanzania raises several questions: Was this a mere coincidence, or was there more behind the scenes? Could this signal a rekindling of political alliances, or is it just a professional courtesy between two statesmen?

Also present at the gathering were World Bank President Ajay Banga and the President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, further adding to the significance of the event.

The two-day summit, hosted by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Union, the African Development Bank, and the World Bank, focuses on Africa’s energy transition and economic development. But with Tinubu and Osinbajo in the same room once again, the political undercurrents may be just as electrifying as the energy discussions themselves.

Could this be the beginning of a new chapter in their political relationship? Only time will tell.