Sunday, August 2, 2026

Peter Obi is light; Atiku, Tinubu represent darkness: Babachir Lawal

The former SGF was once a staunch ally of Mr Bola Tinubu until the APC presidential flagbearer picked a Muslim running mate.

• February 4, 2023
Babachir Lawal
Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has described Peter Obi of Labour Party as representing light. 

A former APC member, Mr Lawal disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television on Saturday. 

Mr Lawal also berated Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as representing darkness. 

“I have seen the light, you can repent when you see the light, I saw the light and repented. The light is Peter Obi; the darkness is the old system that used to govern us which is represented by both the PDP and APC. Same people, same agbada, same red caps, so Nigerians have seen the light not only me,” Mr Lawal said.

Explaining his decision to support Mr Obi, Mr Lawal said: “In the life of a people that are so oppressed living under indescribable insecurity, poverty, ignorance, hunger and diseases, a time comes when they get fed up and little thing will just ignite the flame and there is conflagration. 

“I can tell you Peter Obi is that conflagration in Nigeria because every Nigerian has come to realize there is no way we can continue the way we are going,” he added. 

Prior to the 2022 APC primaries, Mr Lawal was a staunch ally of Mr Tinubu. He led the campaign of the former two-term Lagos governor.

Things, however, fell apart after Mr Tinubu insisted on a same-faith ticket featuring former Borno Governor Kashim Shettima, a Muslim, as his turning mate. 

Before now, Mr Lawal had berated Mr Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket as a satanic plot against Christians in the north, vowing to mobilise Northern Christians against Messrs Tinubu and Shettima in the election.

But Mr Tinubu’s media team has dismissed Mr Lawal’s threat, claiming he turned against Mr Tinubu because he was not picked to be vice presidential candidate.

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