Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has dismissed efforts by some political actors to gain the support of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying such moves are irrelevant to the political future of President Bola Tinubu.
In a recent interview, Lawal criticized those aligned with Tinubu and former members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) for seeking Buhari’s endorsement, describing them as being out of touch with reality.
According to him, genuine CPC loyalists remain committed to the wellbeing of ordinary Nigerians and will not hesitate to oppose any administration that increases hardship, including Tinubu’s.
“The CPC was built on the principle of serving the poor and vulnerable,” Lawal stated. “This administration has done the opposite—it’s made life harder for the masses. If you truly share CPC values, you can’t support that.”
He emphasized that the movement’s core ideology, inspired by Buhari, focuses on fighting for the rights of the marginalized. Lawal argued that Tinubu’s leadership has turned a blind eye to the plight of ordinary citizens, leading to growing dissatisfaction.
When asked if Buhari had endorsed the current coalition of opposition figures, Lawal dismissed the idea, saying the former president’s approval was neither requested nor required.
“We only informed him of our plans out of respect,” he said. “We’re adults. Even if he volunteered to join us, we’d politely decline. He remains part of the current political structure.”
Lawal, a founding member of the CPC and once an ally of Tinubu, is now a major figure in a growing coalition involving other prominent opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai.
He confirmed that discussions for a party merger were already at an advanced stage.
He also took aim at former CPC members like ex-Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura and former Minister Adebayo Shittu, accusing them of abandoning the party’s original ideals.
Shittu had earlier dismissed the CPC as obsolete and described Lawal and others as disgruntled elements.
“CPC ceased to exist when it merged into the APC,” Shittu said during a television interview. “Those invoking its name now are doing so for selfish reasons.”
In response, Lawal said that not all former CPC members were truly committed to its vision. “Some people joined for personal gain. When conditions get tough, they can’t stay true to the cause,” he said.
“They’re welcome to pursue appointments under Tinubu if that’s what matters to them.”
Efforts to get reactions from Al-Makura and Malami were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.
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