Buhari considered Osinbajo’s presidential bid against Tinubu immoral — Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has claimed that former President Muhammadu Buhari considered it immoral and distasteful for his former deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, to challenge Bola Tinubu for the 2023 presidential ticket.

According to TheCable, Lawal made the disclosure during an interview with Symfoni TV published on Thursday, explaining that Buhari valued loyalty and his longstanding relationship with Tinubu.

“Buhari would find it highly immoral for Osinbajo to contest the same position with Bola Tinubu,” Lawal said.

“In his type of character, he will find it distasteful because he knew the relationship before; he is the man who recommended him for president, and Bola wants it.”

Lawal maintained that Buhari’s position would remain unchanged even if he considered Osinbajo better qualified for the presidency.

The former SGF also alleged that Buhari had reservations about Osinbajo’s appointments, particularly his alleged preference for individuals associated with his church.

He recalled an incident involving a memorandum containing approximately 28 proposed appointments, which reportedly remained unapproved for three months.

“Out of 28, I think he ticked 26 with the green biro,” Lawal said, adding that Buhari stated: ‘BD, these are all Yorubas.’”

Lawal said Buhari eventually approved the appointments after he personally intervened and assured him that Osinbajo would be advised about the concerns.

He further alleged that Buhari became uncomfortable with certain appointments involving church associates, although the former president never explicitly linked those concerns to Osinbajo’s presidential ambition.

Lawal suggested that Buhari feared Osinbajo might demonstrate similar tendencies if elected president.

Osinbajo contested the All Progressives Congress presidential primary in 2022 but lost to Tinubu, who subsequently won the 2023 presidential election.

Lawal’s remarks offered fresh insight into alleged political tensions within Buhari’s administration and the internal divisions preceding the APC presidential primary.