Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has made startling allegations regarding the circumstances that led to his dismissal from office during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. In a Facebook post, Lawal asserted that a group of Northerners orchestrated a plot to oust him, driven by resentment over his close ties to Buhari and fears that the former president was positioning him for a more prominent role.
According to Lawal, the plan to remove him was entrusted to some Northern senators, who then delegated the task to well-known legislative enforcers. These individuals recruited allies from the executive branch and the media to execute the scheme. Lawal noted that despite a high-level delegation appealing to Buhari, the president remained unmoved, prompting the conspirators to intensify their efforts to force him out.
Lawal revealed that the plot was fueled by ethnic and religious bias, as some Northern elements believed that Buhari had no business appointing him, given that he hails from the Kilba minority tribe and is a Christian. He refrained from naming the main orchestrator, stating that the individual later apologized in the presence of mutual friends, and Lawal chose to forgive him.
Lawal’s removal occurred during Buhari’s first term, and his allegations shed light on the political intrigues within the administration.