Former SGF, Babachir Lawal says he is qualified to be President

Speaking on the issue of zoning the 2023 presidency outside the north, Lawal, in an interview with the Sun said that the Nigerian constitution did not limit the presidency to any part of the country.

He said every part of the country can produce a competent president.

“I know so many. Being a cosmopolitan man, I know Igbos not less than ten that can successfully run this country; I know Yorubas that can do, I know Ijaws that can do, I know Hausas that can do, I know even Kilba.

“Hey myself, my friend, I can be president of this country. I consider myself quite competent to do so from a small tribe of 300,000 people. There are so many such tribes that can produce good, competent leaders all over Nigeria.

“Even if it is in the north, if we say the north-west has produced a presidential candidate, the south-west had produced one, I don’t see why the north-central can- not produce or the north-east cannot produce just as south-south, south-east, south-west and even north-west can still produce. The constitution doesn’t say it is prohibited. And as I said, I believe every zone, every state, has capable people that can run this country effectively.” He said. 

The former SGF, who is from Adamawa state maintained that the idea of Vice president succeeding the president is not recognised in the constitution of Nigeria and that of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Speaking on the outcome of the governorship election in his state, Lawal blamed the state governor, Jibrilla Bindow for APC’s loss in Adamawa.

He said the governor hijacked the party structure.

“Part of what led to this outcome was a historical position that the government of Bindow had on several occasions publicly declared that their government was a government of Atiku,” 

“It is on record that in so many fora, his supporters, his henchmen had said it in his presence and he didn’t take any step to deny it. I remember at one of their road launching somewhere in Adamawa State, the then-led Chief of Staff, made a long speech in which he insisted that Adamawa State Government was for Atiku. Now, we did also point out the fact that the governor himself had claimed that it was Atiku’s money that facilitated his victory at the polls.

“He had said that on several occasions. We have also had cause to protest that in Bindow’s government, there were about seven serving com- missioners who were very close to Atiku, including his own daughter. Without regard to their merit as qualified indigenes, but I mean, their political inclinations in normal politics will disqualify them from participating in an APC government. But the governor didn’t think so.” he said.

Lawal was appointed as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF ) on August 27, 2015, by President Muhammadu Buhari, suspended on April 19, 2017 and was officially sacked on October 30, 2017.