Tuesday, October 6, 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.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States

​‌⁠​‍‍⁠Police awaiting heavy equipment to recover wreckage of NAF aircraft 

The aircraft marked NAF-931 with 25 people on board on Monday plunged into a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.

National Democratic Congress (NDC)

NationWide

2027: INEC’s upload of our logo ended campaign uncertainty, says NDC

We are fighters and we will fight until the end,” Mr Dickson said.

Pan African Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC)

Africa

81% African businesses expect rise in economic activities despite AfCFTA hurdles: PAFTRAC

PAFTRAC said access to finance remains a key challenge for African countries.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Hot news Home top

2027: Lagos leads with 7,488,633 registered voters as INEC names top 10 states

The INEC chairman said Ekiti State has 1,055,708 registered voters, while Bayelsa State has 1,200,691.

Kashim Shettima

NationWide

Shettima departs Abuja for Addis Ababa to attend nutrition forum

Mr Nkwocha said said the VP delegation would tour key establishments dedicated to boosting nutrition delivery across the country.