Babachir Lawal: The Inanity of Misplaced Angst Towards Tinubu and Shettima
By:
Yakubu Ahmed BK
In a more rational environment, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, would likely be lost in shame, perhaps forever avoiding the public eye. If he possessed even a shred of dignity, he would remain silent, grappling with the regrets of his political choices.
Leading up to the 2023 general elections, Lawal was considered a prominent political figure, and rightly so. He established himself as a significant member of the Buhari Campaign Organization; his close ties with the former president positioned him as a noteworthy player in Nigerian politics.
However, it was during his tenure as Secretary to the Government of the Federation that his troubles began, marked by an alarming combination of arrogance, bigotry and irresponsibility.
His disgraceful removal from office, triggered by allegations of corruption involving contract awards—earning him the moniker “grass cutters”-is still vividly etched in the minds of Nigerians. As the 2023 elections approached, Lawal allied himself with Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential campaign, only to falter again due to a narrow-minded and bigoted perspective.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu and Shettima spurred Lawal’s disdain into action and overdrive. He made it his mission to criticize and undermine the decision, claiming it marginalized the Christian populace in Northern Nigeria. He even asserted that he would mobilize Christians to oppose the ticket and showcase their political significance. He literally went mad, losing all sense of decorum, spewing garbage and creating dangerous divisions that have the potentials to further polarize the nation along very dangerous faultlines.
Lawal went on a tirade, aided by a few similarly embittered political figures, vociferously denouncing the Tinubu/Shettima alliance while pledging to retaliate against the APC. He swore to orchestrate APC’s biggest failure just to prove the unworkability of a ticket he so much despised.
In spite of all the Babachir madness and empty bombast, Tinubu remained unfazed by Lawal’s rants, having assessed the political landscape and the viability of his partnership with Shettima.
Ultimately, Lawal’s political ambitions crumbled; his rants bore no fruit as the ticket triumphed decisively and conclusively.
This humbling defeat should have delivered a hard lesson for Lawal, yet he seemed to retreat back into the cocoon of his bigotry, disappearing from the political scene. One would expect someone in his position to reassess their strategies and approach politics with newfound wisdom in line with the realities of the dynamics of unpredictability of Nigerian national politics.
Unfortunately, it appears Lawal has learned nothing from his missteps. He continues to embody the same arrogance and prejudice.
His latest derogatory comments regarding Vice President Kashim Shettima reflect his ongoing disdain for a ticket he once so vehemently opposed. Describing Shettima as “a flat spare tire” is a reflection of his misplaced anger towards the decision made by Tinubu in selecting him as his running mate.
Individuals like Lawal seem to be overwhelmed by envy and hostility. Whenever they encounter actions that conflict with their narrow viewpoints, they launch into baseless confrontations, creating discord where it does not exist. Regrettably, rather than advocate for genuine Christian interests, they often pursue personal gains that do little to benefit their faith.
Fortunately, the people they aimed to incite into anger and rebellion saw through the veil of deception and voted wisely, believing that the ticket could propel Nigeria beyond the stagnation of petty sectarianism.
Lawal has reached the nadir of his divisive political schemes. The failure of his sentiments hints at the conclusion of his divisive political journey.
Any attempts to create a nonexistent rift between the President and his Vice are undermined by Lawal’s history of aversion towards the ticket from the outset.
One undeniable thing about it all, is that no matter the level or volume of personal attacks, the Tinubu/Shettima presidency has outlived the machination of a band of ill-mannered political lepers of our time. Their retirement from politics has signposted the end of their relevance in the country.
