Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has explained why the late President Muhammadu Buhari refused to publicly endorse Bola Tinubu during the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary.
In an interview with Symfoni TV released on Saturday, Lawal disclosed that Buhari was initially reluctant to back Tinubu due to religious and ethical concerns regarding his suitability as a successor.
According to the former SGF, after extensive discussions, Buhari eventually agreed to remain neutral and allow party delegates to decide the candidate at the convention.
Lawal noted that Tinubu had played a critical role in previous APC election campaigns by providing resources and political strategists, making it difficult for Buhari to outrightly oppose his presidential ambition.
“Bola Tinubu brought people and we coerced him to change the trajectory of the campaign through those his people. Buhari is a human and he’s a decent guy. So I am the only person that confronted him with these facts,” Lawal said.
He revealed that before the convention, he advised Buhari to stay neutral.
“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 on the basis of 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. 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 faithfuls defeat him, so be it. Your hand is not in it.”
Lawal said Buhari initially rejected the idea, insisting that if he left the process to him, Tinubu would emerge as the candidate.
“But Buhari said that’s not an excuse. I know you, you will give Bola Tinubu this ticket. I said, are you God now, sir? Buhari said, no, you started with me since 2002. So I know how you work. I know your methodologies. That man, if I leave him to you, he’ll get the ticket.”
In response, Lawal argued that even if Tinubu secured the ticket, the final decision would still rest with Nigerian voters.
He added that Buhari also expressed concerns about whether Tinubu would be fair to members of their political camp if elected.
“He mentioned some things. This man, is he going to be fair to our people? Is he going to be this? I said, yes, as long as I’m there, you know, I can checkmate him. He said, ‘Okay, deal.’”
Ahead of the June 2022 APC presidential primary, Buhari repeatedly urged delegates to choose a candidate who could advance the party’s ideals but stopped short of publicly endorsing any aspirant.
Tinubu went on to defeat other leading contenders, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, and Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, to clinch the APC ticket. He later won the February 2023 presidential election and was sworn in as president on May 29, 2023.