Presidency Blasts Babachir Lawal, Calls Him ‘Opportunist Gasping for Political Oxygen’

The Presidency has strongly criticised former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, describing him as an opportunist and a political provocateur attempting to draw President Bola Tinubu into controversy. The comments followed Lawal’s recent appearance on a television programme, where he accused the Tinubu administration of poor governance and made disparaging remarks about the President.

In a statement issued through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, it was alleged that Lawal’s comments were a calculated effort to provoke a reaction from the Presidency. Dare recalled that Lawal had previously declared that anyone opposing Tinubu’s path to the presidency should face divine retribution, noting the irony in his current criticisms.

The statement characterised Lawal as “gasping for political oxygen” and accused him of engaging in ideological inconsistency for personal gain. Dare claimed that Lawal’s recent media appearance displayed incoherence and desperation, branding him a “fair-weather friend” and “clay-footed political crusader.”

While acknowledging Lawal’s right to express dissent, the Presidency warned that he should refrain from denigrating the office and person of the President. The statement concluded with a caution that patience with such attacks would not last indefinitely.