The Presidency has sharply rebuked former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, over his recent televised criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of opportunism and political attention-seeking.
Lawal, in a Channels Television interview on Monday, alleged that President Tinubu had ignored political allies, displayed arrogance, and failed to address lingering grievances dating back to the period before the 2023 general elections.
He claimed the president’s conduct since assuming office proved he was unwilling to acknowledge the contributions of those who aided his political ascent.
Responding in a statement on Tuesday, Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication, Sunday Dare, described Lawal’s comments as a desperate bid for relevance, portraying him as an inconsistent political actor whose views lacked credibility.
Dare recalled that Lawal once publicly backed Tinubu’s presidential bid, even invoking divine wrath on anyone who opposed it, yet now resorted to insulting the president and undermining his office.
Dare dismissed Lawal’s claim that Labour Party candidate Peter Obi won the 2023 presidential election, calling it a falsehood already settled by the electoral process and affirmed by the courts.
He stressed that Tinubu’s victory was legitimate and that he remains Nigeria’s duly elected leader until 2027.
The presidential aide further accused the ex-SGF of harbouring personal grievances, suggesting his discontent stemmed from not being chosen as vice president.
Dare argued that Tinubu opted for “a better, more qualified and refined candidate” instead.
He also criticised Lawal’s use of the term “so-called president,” describing it as an affront to the dignity of the presidency.
Highlighting what he called Lawal’s “arrogance and ethnic politics,” Dare reminded the public that Lawal’s removal from office occurred under President Muhammadu Buhari, not Tinubu.
5He said the former SGF’s political history and past remarks revealed a pattern of hubris and self-importance.
According to Dare, Lawal’s public outbursts do not enhance his standing but instead erode his credibility, reinforcing why he has been absent from government and is now, in Dare’s words, “fast sinking into political and community oblivion.”
