Tinubu Under Fire: Babachir Lawal Unleashes Damning Allegations on President's Health, Past!

Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has recently made several significant claims regarding President Bola Tinubu, spanning his past anxieties, character transformation, and current health status. These revelations were shared during interviews on Symfoni TV, shedding light on events leading up to the 2023 general election and Tinubu's tenure as president.

According to Lawal, President Tinubu experienced periods of depression and fear concerning late former President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly prior to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary. This anxiety stemmed from circulating rumors that Buhari was backing another aspirant for the presidency. Lawal recounted that after Buhari’s recovery from an illness, a vacuum emerged around the presidency, which opportunists exploited. These individuals allegedly peddled false claims of Buhari’s endorsement for various presidential aspirants and demanded substantial sums of money, sometimes reaching N500 million, by promising influence through people close to the former president.

Lawal stated that Tinubu was deeply affected by these rumors, often falling into depression. Despite Lawal’s repeated assurances that the claims were false and his encouragement for Tinubu to verify the information directly with Buhari, Tinubu was reportedly reluctant. Lawal indicated that Tinubu harbored a fear of Buhari and was unwilling to confront him on such sensitive issues. In these instances, Chief Bisi Akande, a respected APC chieftain and former Osun State Governor who enjoyed Buhari's trust, frequently intervened. Akande would communicate with Buhari and relay his true position to Tinubu, consistently reinforcing Lawal's assurances and helping to dispel the pervasive rumors during the presidential nomination process.

Beyond the primary elections, Lawal also offered a stark assessment of Tinubu's character before and after assuming the presidency. He asserted that President Tinubu was "an excellent human being" prior to becoming president. Lawal described him as a kind, sympathetic, and good listener who would go to great lengths to solve problems presented to him, even likening his compassion to that of Buhari. Lawal highlighted Tinubu's generosity, noting that he had provided "stupendous amounts of money" to help people in crises without expecting immediate returns, possessing a unique gift for foresight regarding future benefits.

However, Lawal claimed that Tinubu underwent a significant transformation around 2022. He alleged that after relocating to Abuja to pursue his presidential ambition, Tinubu became "caged" by a new circle of "religious bigots" who falsely claimed connections to Buhari. Lawal stated that this marked a turning point where Tinubu "lost his soul," observing a change in his demeanor. While previously always in charge, Lawal now perceives Tinubu as less engaged, suggesting that his focus has shifted to securing "his own share" while allowing others to "loot however they want." Lawal expressed a wish for Tinubu to revert to his former self, believing it would lead to a "great" Nigeria.

Furthermore, Lawal raised concerns about President Tinubu's health, advising him to prioritize it over his presidential duties. Speaking on Symfoni TV, Lawal stated, "President Tinubu is not a healthy man. Nigerians are not fooled when he goes to France." He suggested that after serving four years, Tinubu should step down to focus on his well-being. Lawal also shared personal observations about Tinubu's lifestyle, mentioning his simple diet of "banana and groundnut" and his strong liking for "silk cigarettes," noting he "can’t do without it."

These various claims by Babachir Lawal paint a comprehensive picture of his perspective on President Bola Tinubu, encompassing his pre-presidential struggles with influence peddling, a perceived shift in character post-ascension to power, and ongoing health concerns.