Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has made fresh allegations about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claiming the President was afraid of late former President Muhammadu Buhari and became depressed during the build-up to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general election.
Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV, Lawal recounted what he described as behind-the-scenes events that unfolded as APC aspirants battled for the party’s presidential ticket.
According to the former SGF, Buhari’s recovery from illness and reduced involvement in day-to-day political activities created a leadership vacuum that was allegedly exploited by individuals claiming to have the former President’s endorsement for various aspirants.
Lawal alleged that some people approached presidential hopefuls demanding huge sums of money, claiming they could influence Buhari through individuals close to him.
He claimed Tinubu was deeply affected by the rumours and often became discouraged whenever he was told that Buhari had endorsed another contender.
“And they started to part with the big money. And they would try that with Asiwaju, and Asiwaju probably will go into depression,” Lawal alleged.
The former SGF said he repeatedly assured Tinubu that the reports were false and encouraged him to seek clarification directly from Buhari.
However, Lawal claimed Tinubu was reluctant to meet the former President because he feared confronting him on the issue.
“He doesn’t like to go to see Buhari for whatever reason. He was afraid of Buhari, so he doesn’t like to force Buhari on such matters,” he said.
Lawal further revealed that former Osun State Governor and APC elder statesman Chief Bisi Akande frequently acted as an intermediary because of the trust and respect Buhari had for him.
According to him, Akande would meet with Buhari, obtain clarification on the situation and relay the information back to Tinubu, helping to dispel the rumours circulating during the party’s presidential nomination process.
As of the time of filing this report, neither President Tinubu nor the Presidency had responded to Lawal’s claims. The allegations remain those of the former SGF and have not been independently verified.
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