Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu was instrumental in the creation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and personally financed major parts of the 2015 presidential campaign that led to the election of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking during an interview, Lawal said he served as the link between Buhari and Tinubu during discussions that eventually led to the merger of opposition parties into the APC, with the objective of ending the Peoples Democratic Party’s long-standing rule.
According to him, Buhari entrusted him with facilitating the merger because of his close relationship with Tinubu. Although he initially declined the responsibility due to concerns about political reactions from some northern leaders, Lawal said Buhari insisted he was the most suitable person for the task.
Lawal explained that he held several consultations with party leaders and stakeholders to ensure the merger was successful.
He further claimed that Tinubu deliberately set aside his own presidential ambition at the time in support of the broader goal of uniting the opposition and defeating the PDP.
Lawal also stated that during the APC presidential primary, Tinubu played a crucial role in rallying support for Buhari after reviewing delegate numbers and recognising that Buhari’s strong northern votes required additional backing from the South-West to secure victory.
According to him, Tinubu eventually convinced key political figures to support Buhari’s candidacy, leading to his emergence as the party’s presidential flagbearer.
Lawal also alleged that Tinubu provided substantial financial support for the APC campaign, including funding activities for then vice-presidential candidate Yemi Osinbajo, whose campaign focused on engaging Christian communities and operated separately from parts of the main campaign.
He further claimed that Tinubu hired experienced political consultants from the United States to improve the party’s campaign strategy and personally covered significant campaign expenses instead of relying on funds from the campaign account.
Lawal described Tinubu as someone who was known for helping people financially without expecting immediate rewards, adding that he had witnessed several instances of such generosity.
However, he expressed disappointment with the current administration, describing it as a failure after three years in office. He argued that the government has prioritised personal interests over national development and claimed that many Nigerians are struggling due to the country’s economic challenges.
Lawal also said he believes Tinubu has changed since assuming office, alleging that the President no longer reflects the qualities he displayed before becoming Nigeria’s leader.
