Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has explained why he believes former President Muhammadu Buhari may not have fully supported his former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in the race to succeed him in the 2023 presidential election.
Lawal attributed the possible lack of support to Buhari’s personal values, his longstanding relationship with President Bola Tinubu, and concerns over some decisions Osinbajo allegedly made while serving as acting president.
The former SGF made the revelations during an interview with Symfoni TV, as reported by Naija News.
According to Lawal, Buhari’s decision not to openly back Osinbajo may have been influenced by his strong belief in loyalty and his perception of the relationship between Tinubu and the former vice president.
Why Buhari May Have Preferred Tinubu Over Osinbajo
Lawal argued that if Buhari had wanted his administration’s policies and achievements to continue after leaving office, supporting Osinbajo would have been a logical choice.
He noted that Osinbajo served as vice president for eight years under Buhari, giving him considerable experience in the administration and familiarity with its policies.
However, Lawal suggested that some of Osinbajo’s actions during periods when he served as acting president may have created differences between the two men.
He claimed that Buhari might have been uncomfortable with certain decisions taken by Osinbajo while temporarily exercising presidential powers, particularly decisions Lawal said differed from the former president’s preferences.
Lawal maintained that Buhari placed considerable importance on loyalty and morality, suggesting that these values may have shaped his perception of the 2023 succession contest.
Tinubu’s Relationship With Buhari May Have Influenced His Position
The former SGF also pointed to Buhari’s relationship with Tinubu, arguing that the former president may have considered it inappropriate for Osinbajo to contest against the man Lawal said had recommended Buhari for the presidency.
According to Lawal, Buhari may have viewed a presidential contest between Tinubu and Osinbajo as distasteful, regardless of his personal assessment of who would make a better president.
He said: “Buhari would find it highly immoral, highly immoral. We didn’t discuss this with him, but he would find it very highly immoral for Osinbajo to contest the same position with Bola Tinubu.”
Lawal added that Buhari was aware of the relationship between the two politicians and might have been reluctant to support a contest that could be perceived as disloyal to Tinubu.
He stressed that his interpretation was based on his understanding of Buhari’s character and his assessment of the former president’s body language, rather than a direct conversation with Buhari about the matter.
Lawal Raises Concerns Over Osinbajo’s Appointments
Lawal also alleged that Buhari was unhappy with some of the appointments made or proposed by Osinbajo while serving as acting president.
He claimed that Buhari was aware of what he described as a tendency for Osinbajo to appoint people from his church and suggested that this may have contributed to the former president’s reservations.
Recalling an incident from the early days of the Buhari administration, when he served as SGF, Lawal said the president had directed that all official communications to him should pass through his Chief of Staff, whom he identified as Abba Kyari.
Lawal then referred to a memo Osinbajo allegedly sent to Buhari seeking approval for appointments involving his Chief of Staff. He recalled that the list contained approximately 28 names.
He said: “Buhari is aware that most of the appointments that Osinbajo would do were people from his church. Buhari was aware of this and he was not happy.”
The allegations suggest that concerns over appointments, administrative decisions and political loyalty may have influenced Buhari’s attitude towards Osinbajo’s presidential ambition.
However, Lawal’s account represents his interpretation of the former president’s thinking and does not establish Buhari’s private motives as fact.
Osinbajo and Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Ambitions
Osinbajo and Tinubu were both prominent figures in the race to succeed Buhari ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Osinbajo, who served as vice president from 2015 to 2023, contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket, while Tinubu emerged as the party’s candidate.
Tinubu subsequently won the February 2023 presidential election and succeeded Buhari as president in May 2023.
Lawal’s comments have renewed attention on the political relationships, competing ambitions and internal dynamics that shaped the APC’s succession process.
Although Osinbajo’s experience as vice president positioned him as a potential successor, Lawal’s account suggests that Buhari’s personal relationships and views on loyalty may also have played a role in how the former president approached the contest.
His claims, however, should be understood as Lawal’s assessment rather than a confirmed account of Buhari’s intentions.