Bisi Akande, a former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has said President Bola Tinubu complained about his knee (arthritis) prior to the 2023 general elections.

Speaking in a recent interview with broadcaster Edmund Obilo, monitored by Legit.ng, Akande opened up on the conversation he had with President Tinubu in the buildup to the 2023 election.

The erstwhile Osun state governor said:

"Tinubu said Baba (Akande), you said I should run (for the presidency), what about this my leg?

"You know he (Tinubu) is having a bad leg, arthritis. I said 'go and do it, there is still time'. You heal in six months and you start walking again, and he went to fix it."

Watch the video below:

Chief Bisi Akande Unveils Tinubu's Path to Presidency

Chief Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun State and a respected elder statesman, takes center stage in this interview. The former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, unpacks the political intrigues and… pic.twitter.com/ZNwLpKGifP

— edmund obilo (@eobilo) January 29, 2025

Tinubu underwent surgery on his right knee in London, United Kingdom (UK) in 2021. The former Lagos state governor returned to Nigeria in October of that year after weeks abroad during which he underwent surgery for arthritis as well as rigorous post-surgery physiotherapy.

Tinubu spent several weeks abroad, including at a London home owned by ex-governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, his protégé.

While staying in the house, Tinubu hosted several guests including then-President Muhammadu Buhari and Femi Gbajabiamila, who was the speaker of the house of representatives at the time.