Babachir Lawal reveals Buhari’s reservations, Tinubu’s anxiety before 2023 APC primary

By Musa Baba Adamu

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has shed fresh light on the intrigues that preceded the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general election, claiming that late former President Muhammadu Buhari had reservations about Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential ambition while Tinubu himself became anxious over rumours that Buhari was backing another aspirant.

Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV monitored in Abuja, Lawal said Buhari was initially uncomfortable supporting Tinubu because of personal, religious and ethical considerations but eventually agreed to remain neutral after a series of discussions.

According to him, Buhari’s return to office after a prolonged illness created a vacuum around the presidency, which was exploited by individuals who allegedly peddled false claims of having the former president’s endorsement and access to influential figures around him.

Lawal alleged that the individuals approached presidential hopefuls, demanding huge sums of money while promising to secure Buhari’s support.

He said the rumours unsettled Tinubu, who occasionally became despondent after hearing that Buhari had allegedly endorsed another aspirant.

“They would come to any of the candidates and say, ‘I was with the president yesterday… it is you he wants.’ They would then ask for huge sums of money, claiming they could reach people close to him,” Lawal said.

The former SGF disclosed that he repeatedly assured Tinubu that the claims were false and encouraged him to meet Buhari directly to verify the reports.

However, he claimed Tinubu was reluctant to confront the former president over the issue.

“When I hear such stories, I tell him they are lies. Let’s go and see Buhari. But he didn’t like to go. He was afraid of Buhari, so he didn’t want to confront him on those matters,” Lawal stated.

Lawal said former Osun State Governor and APC elder statesman, Chief Bisi Akande, frequently acted as an intermediary because Buhari held him in high regard. According to him, Akande would meet Buhari and later reassure Tinubu that the rumours circulating within the party were unfounded.

On Buhari’s own disposition towards Tinubu, Lawal said the late president initially did not want to hand over power to the former Lagos governor due to his personal convictions.

He recalled persuading Buhari that Tinubu deserved a fair opportunity, having played a pivotal role in building the APC and contributing political strategists and resources to Buhari’s previous election campaigns.