Nigeria may crash chaotically under Atiku – Babachir Lawal says he’d rather back Tinubu
Former SGF Babachir Lawal Backs President Tinubu Over Atiku Abubakar Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Sekinat Osundiji
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal has expressed his support for President Bola Tinubu, stating he believes a presidency under former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could lead to a chaotic outcome.
Lawal articulated his views during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he outlined his opposition to Atiku’s aspirations for the presidency in the forthcoming 2027 elections.
“I’d rather go with Bola than Atiku because when Nigeria crashes with Bola, it might be an orderly crash, but with Atiku it would be a chaotic one,” Lawal said.
When asked about the basis for his stance, Lawal responded, “Because he’s not a good man.” He noted that his experiences while working with Atiku had influenced his change of heart, despite having considered supporting the former vice president due to the dire circumstances facing northern Nigeria.
“I wanted to work for Atiku. I believed that considering the suffering in the North, we should not surrender the presidency,” he explained, emphasizing the need for leadership to address the region’s challenges.
However, Lawal ultimately decided against supporting Atiku, alleging that the former vice president frequently altered decisions that were initially agreed upon, leading to confusion and disorder. “Everything you do with him, there’s chaos,” Lawal stated, citing patterns of inconsistent directives.
He further alleged that disagreements over political appointments contributed to the confusion, suggesting that even decisions made with Atiku were subject to change under external influences.
In the interview, Lawal revealed that Atiku had previously asked him to convince former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to accept a position as his running mate for the upcoming elections. He outlined Atiku’s proposal to serve one term before advocating for a constitutional amendment to establish a single six-year presidential term. The plan included suggestions for rotating the presidency among the South-East and North-Central zones.
Lawal conveyed his unsuccessful attempt to persuade Obi, who reportedly felt that a partnership with Atiku would jeopardize his chances of success in the election. “He says his survey shows him that they are unlikely to win if he pairs with Atiku,” Lawal quoted Obi as stating.
Obi eventually indicated a preference to refrain from running rather than join a potentially losing ticket. Lawal later relayed Obi’s position to Atiku and consulted several notable Igbo leaders in an effort to sway Obi, but these attempts did not yield results.
Lawal’s remarks emerge amidst ongoing discussions among opposition leaders concerning potential political alliances as the 2027 presidential election approaches.
