SGF under fire for saying Tinubu, Akande
influenced his appointment
Indications emerged Wednesday that the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Mr. Babachir David Lawal, has come under fire
from Presidency over a provocative claim he
made during a thanksgiving service in Abuja last
Saturday.
Babachir David Lawal
Lawal, who assembled top party and Christian
leaders for a thanksgiving service in Abuja had
paid glowing tribute to the APC National Leader,
Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and the former Acting
National Chairman, Bisi Akande, as being
responsible for his nomination to Buhari for
appointment as the SGF.
He also said that his choice as a Christian would
not have been possible if the nomination had
been left to Northern leaders to make.
At the event attended by the Vice President Prof
Yemi Osinbajo, Lawal said: “I am Secretary to
the Government today, because those people-
Tinubu and Akande- that I mentioned were the
very first to put the idea in the mind of the
President.
“They were the ones that made it possible
because if it has been left to northerners, it is
doubtful if they will take a Christian man to make
Secretary to the Government of the Federation”.
But competent sources said that barely two days
after Lawal had made the remark, angry leading
Muslim leaders and northern elite, who felt
insulted by his claim, stormed the Presidential
Villa and complained to President Muhammadu
Buhari and asked to discipline the SGF for being
careless with his speech