President Bola Tinubu's policymaking approach differs significantly from that of his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, according to Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District. Oshiomhole, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the remarks in an interview aired on The Mic On Podcast on Sunday. He emphasized that Tinubu could not openly critique Buhari's administration due to his role in supporting Buhari's rise to power. The senator recalled stating during Tinubu's 2022 presidential campaign that Tinubu would not run on Buhari's record. At the time, Oshiomhole noted, Buhari was still in office, but he maintained that Tinubu would campaign on his own merits. He explained that Tinubu had no formal role in Buhari's government and did not nominate any appointees during that administration. Oshiomhole described Tinubu as possessing a "sophisticated mind" and capable of statesmanlike conduct, which prevents him from disavowing Buhari publicly. In contrast, Oshiomhole claimed he has the freedom to openly assess Buhari's tenure without political constraint. He maintained that while both leaders are APC members, their governance styles and decision-making frameworks are fundamentally distinct. No further comparative analysis or policy examples were provided in the interview. The discussion focused solely on political positioning and personal judgment of leadership qualities. No Nigerian policy outcomes, legislative actions or economic indicators were cited to support the contrast.
Oshiomhole asserts Tinubu never influenced Buhari's appointments, yet expects a break in policy style despite shared party leadership. If Tinubu had no role in Buhari's government, then his silence on past policies cannot be seen as political loyalty but absence of prior engagement. This distinction reframes Tinubu's continuity not as endorsement but as starting from a separate political baseline. Oshiomhole's freedom to criticise where Tinubu cannot speaks more to personal positioning than systemic change.
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