Former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has backed Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Lawan, who was sacked as SGF over his alleged involvement in the 2016 N500 million Grass-cutting scandal, told The Sun that the former Lagos State Governor has demonstrated that he is a good leader.
The former SGF also called on the South-East to stand up and work if they want to produce Nigeria’s President.
He said: “Tinubu was a good governor of Lagos State. That is why all his successors are working on his footprint.
“Even though some of them wanted to claim that they know, they found out that the structure he laid is a solid one.
“People can insult him, but every governor consistently builds on his structure to the extent that Lagos State has consistently produced the best governors in their dispensation starting from Tinubu, Fashola, Akinwunmi and Sanwo-Olu, who is just starting.”
According to Lawal, Bola Tinubu‘s ability to pass the mantra of leadership to a qualified successor was worth applauding.
”There was a time in the Federal Executive Council of 36, Tinubu had four”.
“If you look at all other governors, the only one that handed over to his deputy was Zamfara and because he had no choice.”
“I am advocating that the best man should take over from Buhari. And for now that best man is Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is from the Southwest by coincidence,” he added.
The former SGF claimed that the political career of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is over in Adamawa State.
He, however, stated that he felt Atiku Abubakar would have done better if he had become president.
“Atiku Abubakar is not my friend. He is too senior in age, position in the society to be my friend. He was the vice president.
“I only managed to become Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for two years. So, he cannot be my friend,” he added.
“I like the guy. I used to tell people that as an indigene of Adamawa State, and if not because I am committed to other candidates that I feel he will do better, I probably would have worked for him.
“The guy is okay. He relates very well with people. I have seen people he has helped.
“I have seen people he has destroyed. I have seen people he has ignored. There is no particular reason to say because I am from Adamawa, he is my friend. In Adamawa, however, I think his political career has fatigued or it is over,” he noted.
