Stop stigmatising ethnic groups for political gain, Atiku slams Babachir Lawal

Former Nigerian Vice President and presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has launched a sharp critique against former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. Abubakar accuses Lawal of promoting ethnic prejudice, spreading conspiracy theories, and exacerbating divisions within Nigeria at a time when national unity is crucial to address mounting challenges.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar asserted that Lawal's recent public statements lack factual basis and evidence. Instead, he argued, they employ ethnic profiling and inflammatory rhetoric designed to discredit political opponents. Abubakar found Lawal's persistent effort to link an entire ethnic group with the criminal actions of a few individuals particularly troubling.

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It is both dangerous and irresponsible to suggest that any Nigerian should be judged, condemned, or held accountable for crimes committed by individuals simply because they share a common ancestry.

"It is both dangerous and irresponsible to suggest that any Nigerian should be judged, condemned, or held accountable for crimes committed by individuals simply because they share a common ancestry," Abubakar stated. He warned that such reasoning undermines national cohesion and could widen existing fault lines in a country already struggling with insecurity, economic hardship, and political tensions.

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Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: which Babachir should they believe? The Babachir who claims to be a victim of political conspiracies and ethnic domination, or the Babachir who boasts that governors are scrambling for his services?

Abubakar also pointed out contradictions in Lawal's public persona. He noted that on the same day Lawal criticized Abubakar, he reportedly gave media interviews highlighting his own political relevance and claiming that several governors were interested in bringing him back into the ruling All Progressives Congress. "Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: which Babachir should they believe?" Abubakar queried, highlighting the apparent discrepancy between Lawal portraying himself as a victim of conspiracy and as a sought-after political asset.

The public exchange underscores the evolving political landscape in Nigeria as opposition figures strategize for the 2027 general election. This period is characterized by increasing positioning against both the incumbent administration and other political contenders. Abubakar further accused Lawal of attempting to stigmatize the Fulani ethnic group, despite having served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is of Fulani extraction.

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One moment, he presents himself as a lonely patriot standing against an imagined threat to Nigeria. The next moment, he portrays himself as a prized political asset being courted by powerful governors. Such contradictions expose a man struggling to reconcile personal disappointment with political reality.