Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu underwent a significant change after assuming office, saying the Nigerian leader was once compassionate, approachable and generous but is no longer the same person.
Speaking on Tinubu’s personal transformation, Lawal described the president as “an excellent human being” before his presidency, recalling that he was known for listening to advice, showing empathy and going to great lengths to help people in difficult situations.
“If you’re in a problem, he’ll go to whatever length to solve it. He was a good listener, took advice, and was kind,” Lawal said, adding that he often compared Tinubu’s compassion to that of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Lawal, however, argued that Tinubu began to change in 2022 after relocating to Abuja to pursue his presidential ambition. According to him, the president became increasingly isolated by associates who influenced his decisions.
“Our people, the northerners who were his friends, surrounded him, and he was caged. They introduced him to religious bigots who claimed they knew Buhari, and that was when he started changing,” he alleged.
The former SGF said he had direct access to Tinubu during that period and witnessed what he described as a gradual shift in the president’s personality.
Despite his criticism, Lawal acknowledged Tinubu’s past generosity, saying the president had, on several occasions, provided substantial financial assistance to people facing hardship without expecting anything in return.
He also described Tinubu as someone with an unusual ability to identify people’s future potential, saying this often influenced his willingness to support them.
Reflecting on the president’s current leadership, Lawal expressed disappointment, claiming Tinubu had “lost his soul” and no longer appeared fully in control of his administration.
“I wish he could go back to what he was before. Nigeria will be great,” Lawal said.
The presidency has not publicly responded to the remarks.
