Buhari had reservations about Tinubu's 2023 candidacy, claims ex-SGF Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has asserted that the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari harbored reservations about Bola Tinubu's presidential candidacy for the 2023 elections. Lawal detailed these concerns, citing Buhari's religious convictions and personal ethics. However, he stated that Buhari ultimately decided to remain neutral, allowing party delegates to freely select the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.

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He would not say I don’t know. He would not say it’s a rumour because I was there. So why would he deny him (Tinubu)? Why would he… in the end he said okay.

Lawal, a founding APC member who has since become a prominent critic of President Tinubu, made these claims in a recent interview with Symfoni TV. He also projected that Tinubu would not succeed in his bid for a second term in 2027. Lawal expressed his support for a joint ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, believing it would be more competitive against the APC than if they ran separately.

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As we were going to the convention, I said, ‘Oga’, let’s make a deal. I said, look, this man (Tinubu), we now know that based on your religion and your ethics and your upbringing, you don’t want to hand over to this man, but he has helped us get here.

The former SGF also shed light on Tinubu's involvement in the APC's formation and his financial backing of Buhari's 2015 presidential campaign. He explained Buhari's reluctance to openly endorse Tinubu before the 2022 APC presidential primary, attributing it to the former president's ethical and religious considerations. Lawal recounted a conversation where he urged Buhari to stay neutral, acknowledging Tinubu's significant contributions to the party and past campaigns. "He would not say I don’t know. He would not say it’s a rumour because I was there. So why would he deny him (Tinubu)? Why would he… in the end he said okay," Lawal stated, recounting his plea for neutrality to allow the party faithful to decide.

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So there’s no way. Let’s make a deal. Stay neutral and allow me to run the process. If we go to the convention and the party faithful defeat him, so be it. Your hand is not in it.