By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Former Nigerian Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has pointed fingers at former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his removal from office.
Lawal made the allegation while responding to criticisms that followed his recent exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Days earlier, he had announced his departure from the party, accusing it of discarding internal democracy. According to him, the party’s presidential primary and other processes were manipulated to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his supporters.
He claimed that some legitimate aspirants were excluded from contests, while the results of others were predetermined long before voting took place. Lawal stated that he could not remain in a party he believes has been turned into a tool for securing Atiku’s candidacy for the 2027 presidential election.
However, his social media posts have drawn criticism from supporters of Atiku. Despite this, Lawal said he is unfazed by the backlash and remains firm on his position.
As reported by Daily Trust, Lawal also refuted claims that he was dismissed from his SGF role due to corruption allegations. He described such assertions as false.
He explained that former President Muhammadu Buhari had been his mentor since 1971 and had invited him to join his team as far back as 2002. Lawal said some people began to fear that Buhari was planning to give him a significant position in the future, which led them to seek ways to remove him from his current post at the time.
He further alleged that opposition to his appointment stemmed from the fact that he is a Christian from the Kilba ethnic group.
Lawal noted that despite the pressure on Buhari, the former president did not initially agree to demands for his removal.
Although he did not directly name anyone at the beginning of his statement, Lawal later accused former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of playing a key role in his eventual sack.
He recounted that after the Senate submitted an interim report to Buhari calling for his removal, the president rejected the report on the advice of the Attorney General, who stated that the report lacked sufficient evidence.
However, Lawal alleged that Osinbajo continued to pressure Buhari on the matter until the president agreed to set up an investigative panel.
In the end, Lawal said it was the report from that panel that recommended his removal, even though, according to him, no evidence was found proving he committed any offence.
