Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has accused Yoruba political leaders of sidelining their allies after winning elections, claiming they “behave as if they have subdued you” and fail to acknowledge the support that brought them to power.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Lawal criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying he could not have coped if he were part of the cabinet.
“I thank God that I didn’t make the mistake of being in this government ab initio. If I were in this government, I probably would have been sacked a long time ago, killed, or resigned,” he said.
The former APC chieftain accused Tinubu’s government of nepotism, alleging that appointments were heavily skewed toward Yoruba officials.
“I cannot go to a meeting in which 99 per cent of the participants are Yoruba. The tendency is that they finish the meeting in their language, and I am just sitting there,” he said.
Recalling campaign days, Lawal alleged that after Tinubu’s “emi lokan” speech in Ogun State, some Yoruba supporters insulted northerners, calling them illiterate. “The problem with the Yoruba is that when you support them and they win, they behave as if they have subdued you. They will not count your support,” he added.
Lawal also faulted the administration’s economic policies, especially the removal of fuel subsidy, claiming Nigerians were yet to see any benefit and that subsidies were still being paid in disguise.
On the 2023 presidential election, Lawal insisted that Peter Obi, not Tinubu, won the poll, alleging that the APC rigged the outcome.
