Key Takeaways

• Babachir Lawal believes Buhari’s personal values and relationships may have influenced his position on Osinbajo’s 2023 presidential ambition.
• Lawal argued that Buhari placed a high value on loyalty and may have considered a contest between Osinbajo and Tinubu inappropriate.
• He suggested that some decisions made by Osinbajo while acting president may have affected the prospect of continuing Buhari’s policies.
• Lawal also raised concerns about appointments he attributed to Osinbajo, although the supplied report does not establish the full details or outcome.
• Lawal acknowledged that he had not discussed the specific question of Osinbajo’s presidential ambition with Buhari, leaving his explanation as an interpretation rather than a confirmed account.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has explained why he believes former President Muhammadu Buhari was reluctant to support his former deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, as his successor in the 2023 presidential election.

Lawal, who spoke during an interview with Symfoni TV, suggested that Buhari’s emphasis on loyalty, his relationship with Bola Tinubu, and concerns about some of Osinbajo’s decisions while serving as acting president may have influenced the situation.

According to Lawal, Buhari’s alleged reluctance to support Osinbajo could be understood through the former president’s personal values and his view of the relationship between Buhari and Tinubu.

Why Lawal Believes Loyalty to Tinubu Mattered

Lawal argued that Buhari placed considerable importance on loyalty and morality. In his view, Buhari may have considered it inappropriate for Osinbajo to contest the presidency against Tinubu, whom Lawal described as the person who recommended Buhari for the presidency.

Lawal said Buhari might have found Osinbajo’s decision distasteful because of the existing relationship between the former president and Tinubu.

He acknowledged, however, that this was his interpretation of Buhari’s character rather than a position Buhari had directly communicated to him on the specific issue.

Lawal 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.”

He added that Buhari would likely have considered the contest inappropriate because he understood the relationship between the two men and knew that Tinubu wanted the presidency.

Osinbajo’s Actions While Acting President

Lawal also suggested that some decisions taken by Osinbajo while he served as acting president may have contributed to differences between him and Buhari.

He argued that if Buhari wanted his administration’s policies to continue after leaving office, supporting Osinbajo would have appeared to be a natural choice because Osinbajo had served as vice president for eight years.

However, Lawal questioned whether certain actions attributed to Osinbajo aligned with Buhari’s expectations for the administration.

Referring to a period when Buhari was reportedly ill, Lawal said Osinbajo had taken decisions, including dismissing some officials, that he believed Buhari would not have favoured.

Lawal argued that such decisions could have affected the prospect of continuing Buhari’s policies under an Osinbajo presidency.

These remarks represent Lawal’s assessment of the relationship between the two former leaders. The supplied account does not establish that Buhari personally confirmed this explanation.

Lawal Raises Questions About Osinbajo’s Appointments

Another issue raised by Lawal concerned appointments allegedly made by Osinbajo while serving as acting president.

Lawal claimed that Buhari was aware that some of the people Osinbajo appointed were associated with his church and that the former president was unhappy about the situation.

Lawal said he had served as SGF at the beginning of the administration and recalled that Buhari had directed that communications to him should pass through his Chief of Staff, whom Lawal identified as Abba Kyari.

He then referred to a memorandum Osinbajo had reportedly sent to Buhari seeking approval for his own Chief of Staff, saying the accompanying list contained approximately 28 people.

The supplied report ends before Lawal explains the full details or outcome of that memorandum. Consequently, the circumstances surrounding the appointments and Buhari’s response require further confirmation before stronger conclusions can be drawn.

What Lawal’s Account Establishes — and What Remains Unconfirmed

Lawal’s explanation centres on three main issues: Buhari’s emphasis on loyalty, his relationship with Tinubu, and Lawal’s claims about Osinbajo’s decisions and appointments while acting president.

However, Lawal explicitly acknowledged that he had not discussed with Buhari the specific question of whether the former president considered Osinbajo’s presidential ambition immoral.

His comments should therefore be understood as his interpretation of Buhari’s character and possible motivations, rather than a confirmed account of Buhari’s private reasoning.

The interview offers Lawal’s perspective on the political relationships surrounding the 2023 succession contest, but the supplied report does not include a direct response from Buhari or Osinbajo addressing these particular claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Babachir Lawal believe Buhari did not support Osinbajo in 2023?

Lawal believes Buhari’s emphasis on loyalty, his relationship with Bola Tinubu, and concerns about some decisions attributed to Osinbajo may have influenced the former president’s position.

What did Lawal say about Buhari and Tinubu?

Lawal argued that Buhari may have considered it inappropriate for Osinbajo to contest the presidency against Tinubu because of the relationship between the two men.

What concerns did Lawal raise about Osinbajo’s time as acting president?

He referred to decisions involving the dismissal of officials and appointments that he believed may not have aligned with Buhari’s preferences.

Did Buhari personally confirm Lawal’s explanation?

The supplied report does not show Buhari confirming the specific reasons described by Lawal. Lawal himself said they had not discussed whether Buhari considered Osinbajo’s presidential ambition immoral.

What was the significance of the appointments mentioned by Lawal?

Lawal claimed that Buhari was unhappy about some appointments allegedly associated with Osinbajo’s church. The available account ends before providing the full details of the memorandum or its outcome.