Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria's political landscape, claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration has "crossed every red line" of democracy.
Speaking during an interview on SYMFONI, Lawal offered his ratings and assessments of various prospective 2027 presidential candidates, including Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Atiku Abubakar, Adewole Adebayo, Omoyele Sowore, Donald Duke, and Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Key Ratings & Probability Scale
Babachir Lawal outlined his personal rating scale for presidential tickets and contenders running against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC):
- Peter Obi & Rabiu Kwankwaso (70% Chance): Lawal rated a combined Obi-Kwankwaso ticket at 70%, stating they would make a strong team capable of outperforming the current administration. He praised Obi for striving to be fair and noted that Kwankwaso's support strengthens the alliance.
- Adewole Adebayo (100% Personal Approval): Lawal spoke highly of Social Democratic Party (SDP) figure Adewole Adebayo, rating him 100% on a personal scale based on his speeches and economic grasp, calling him an "excellent president" in terms of youthful insight and capability.
- Atiku Abubakar (0% / Unusable): Lawal gave former Vice President Atiku Abubakar 0%, firmly ruling out supporting him due to past personal working experiences and character assessments. He noted that if forced to choose strictly between Tinubu and Atiku, he would choose Tinubu.
Breakdown of Candidate Assessments
1. Peter Obi & Rabiu Kwankwaso
Lawal described Peter Obi as a personal friend and emphasized that while individual tickets might struggle, pairing Obi and Kwankwaso creates a formidable coalition with a high likelihood of winning public trust. He added that if he ends his political sabbatical, he will back Obi.
2. Omoyele Sowore & Donald Duke
- Omoyele Sowore: Lawal
commended activist Omoyele Sowore, comparing his role to the late Gani
Fawehinmi. He credited figures like Sowore with preventing state
overreach and fighting for civil liberties.
- Donald Duke:
Described former Cross River Governor Donald Duke as a decent, handsome,
and effective administrator during his tenure as governor.
3. Rotimi Amaechi
Addressing
former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Lawal acknowledged his
energy and religious integrity but raised concerns over his "excessive
ambition" and political reach, comparing his brash style to former
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, though calling Amaechi "better
polished."
Warning on the 2027 Electoral Process
Beyond
individual candidate assessments, Lawal expressed pessimism regarding
the fairness of the upcoming 2027 elections. He alleged that the ruling
party has systematically co-opted opposition governors to starve
alternative platforms of campaign funds and secure state-level delivery.
Lawal
claimed that electoral outcomes in key states could be written in
advance, warning that without unified opposition pressure, public apathy
might leave citizens feeling helpless to challenge flawed processes.
Published by Qubes Magazine
Founder & Editor-in-Chief: Okwudili Onyido
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