“The ADC presidential candidate labels Babachir Lawal’s comments as hypocritical and “irresponsible,” noting the former SGF’s years of service under a Fulani president.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has hit back at the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, accusing him of descending into “dangerous and irresponsible” ethnic profiling.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President slammed Lawal for injecting tribal sentiment into the political discourse, urging him to focus on issues, policies, and leadership rather than ancestry.
The exchange follows Lawal’s bitter exit from the ADC, where he alleged that the party’s primaries were “rigged” to favor Atiku. Lawal had also pointedly referenced Atiku’s ethnicity, a move the Atiku camp describes as a desperate attempt to weaponize prejudice after failing to achieve personal political goals.
Atiku expressed deep concern over Lawal’s attempt to stigmatize an entire ethnic group based on the actions of a few. He warned that such rhetoric is not only divisive but poses a significant threat to the fragile fabric of Nigeria’s national unity.
“It is both dangerous and irresponsible to suggest that any Nigerian should be judged, condemned, or held accountable for crimes committed by individuals simply because they share a common ancestry,” the statement read.
Atiku noted that applying such flawed logic would lead to a breakdown of social order, where entire communities are blamed for the transgressions of a handful of individuals. He emphasized that leadership in a diverse nation like Nigeria requires a vision that transcends tribal lines.
The former Vice President also highlighted what he described as a glaring inconsistency in Lawal’s sudden disdain for Fulani leadership. He reminded the public that Lawal rose to his highest political height—the office of the SGF—under a Fulani president, Muhammadu Buhari.
“At no point did Mr. Lawal object to receiving such trust and elevation from a Fulani President,” Atiku stated. “He accepted the office, the privileges, and the prestige that came with it. It is, therefore, difficult to understand why he now seeks to stigmatize an entire ethnic group merely because another Fulani man seeks the presidency through democratic means.”
### **Contradictions and ‘Political Resentment’**
The statement further poked holes in Lawal’s recent public posturing. Atiku pointed out the contradiction between Lawal’s claim of being a victim of “ethnic domination” and his recent boasts that several All Progressives Congress (APC) governors were lobbying for his return to their fold.
“Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: which Babachir should they believe?” Atiku asked. “The Babachir who claims to be a victim of political conspiracies, or the Babachir who boasts that governors are scrambling for his services? One moment, he presents himself as a lonely patriot… The next, he portrays himself as a prized political asset. Such contradictions expose a man struggling to reconcile personal disappointment with political reality.”
### **A Record of Inclusivity**
Dismissing Lawal’s claims that he has been silent on national insecurity, Atiku maintained that he has consistently condemned terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping regardless of the identity of the perpetrators or victims.
He pointed to his tangible contributions to nation-building, specifically citing the scholarships he facilitated for several released Chibok schoolgirls through the American University of Nigeria (AUN).
“Those young women are living proof that compassion is more powerful than bitterness,” the statement continued. “While some people chose to exploit national tragedies for political narratives, others chose to invest in healing and hope.”
Closing his rebuttal, Atiku called for a shift in the nature of Nigeria’s political conversation, moving away from “endless bitterness about the past” toward a focus on the future.
“Babachir may see tribe; I see Nigerians. Babachir may see division; I see a nation that must come together if it is to overcome its present challenges,” Atiku concluded. “That is the difference between politics driven by resentment and leadership driven by purpose.”
