The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has alleged that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, turned against President Bola Tinubu because he was not chosen as the vice-presidential candidate in 2023.
Wike, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, claimed Lawal nursed expectations of being Tinubu’s running mate and became bitter when the President opted for Senator Kashim Shettima.
“When Mr President chose his vice-presidential candidate, Babachir visited me in Port Harcourt. His anger was that he thought Mr President would have picked him. Having not done that, he let loose,” Wike said.
The minister accused Lawal of making unfair and disrespectful remarks about Tinubu in recent interviews. According to him, Lawal’s criticisms stemmed from personal grievances rather than genuine concerns about governance.
“I watched the interview where he described Mr President as being ‘full of himself.’ For a man who once had a relationship with the President to use such words on national television is unfortunate,” Wike stated.
He argued that Lawal should have addressed his grievances privately instead of resorting to public outbursts. “If you had a problem with Mr President before he assumed office, nothing stops you from seeking a way to resolve it. That doesn’t give you the right to undermine the office of the President,” he added.
Wike further dismissed claims by Lawal that Tinubu is “unapproachable,” stressing that governance is a collective responsibility and not every Nigerian can have direct access to the President.
“I am the minister of the FCT. If you have issues concerning Abuja, you should first reach out to the minister or special advisers. You can’t expect the President to attend to everyone directly. That’s not how government works,” he said.
Lawal, a long-standing critic of the Tinubu administration, had in a recent interview faulted the government’s economic policies, especially the removal of fuel subsidy. He alleged that despite official claims, subsidy payments were still being made secretly and that Nigerians had not benefited from the policy.
The former SGF also said he would not have survived working under Tinubu, claiming he would have either resigned, been sacked, or even “killed” if he had accepted a cabinet role.
Wike, however, insisted that Lawal’s attacks were politically motivated. “There are people I used to hold in high esteem, but when you begin to see their true colours, you realise your respect was misplaced. Babachir Lawal is one of such people,” he declared.
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