The Opposition's Growing Power Wobbles President Tinubu, Says Ex-SGF Babachir Lawal
Foresight of 2027: Babachir Lawal Alleges Tinubu's Disquiet Due to Expanding Opposition Coalition
In an explosive interview with Punch, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu is sweating bullets over the burgeoning opposition alliance spearheaded by none other than former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Lawal, the Presidency is pulling out all the stops to derail this nascent coalition, fearing its rapid momentum.
Our news outlet reports that this revelation comes at a time when there's buzz about a potential political restructuring within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), specifically centering around factions that originated from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged with other parties to form the APC in 2013.
The exodus of some CPC-aligned members to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has fueled speculation that a schism might be on the horizon for the ruling party.
A noteworthy visit occurred in late April, when Abubakar, El-Rufai, and other influential figures paid a courtesy call on former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna. Many onlookers perceived this as a shrewd move to win Buhari's endorsement for the opposition coalition.
Among the delegation were heavy hitters like Governor Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo).
Despite dismissals from the Presidency and the APC about the influence of the opposition coalition, Lawal remains adamant that the political clout of the opposition is causing unease within Tinubu's circle.
"We're forming this political party - it's like people looking through tinted windows and thinking they know what's going on inside," Lawal told Punch. "Tinubu knows we can beat him. Even those around him who are sincere know he's a vulnerable species for the 2027 Presidency. We still hear what they say behind closed doors. There's panic," he said.
Lawal further alluded to the recent suppression of anti-government songs as proof of the administration's insecurity, specifically pointing fingers at the banning of songs by popular musician Idris Abdulkareem. He called it a sign of "scared individuals freaking out even over minor things."
"They've gone out of their minds with desperation. A petrified man doesn't play by the rules," Lawal added.
Lawal also highlighted that Atiku, El-Rufai, and other members of the opposition coalition have intimate knowledge of Tinubu's political strategies, having worked side-by-side with him in the past.
"We've collaborated together before. If people still say I was the one sent to purchase Tinubu's presidential election form, then it means we know each other well," Lawal said. "Atiku and Rauf Aregbesola were once political allies of Tinubu too. We know the strategies with which an election is won in Nigeria - and the tactics used to defeat the opposition."
However, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, downplayed the threat posed by the opposition coalition, labeling it as a misguided association of "displaced politicians."
"There is no coalition. It's the delusion of some importance-obsessed individuals. It's just an alignment of displaced politicians," Basiru stated to Punch.
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- Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, claims that President Tinubu is concerned about the rapidly growing opposition alliance led by Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai, which is targeting the 2027 elections.
- The Presidency is reportedly taking aggressive measures to hinder the progress of this coalition, fearing its increasing momentum.
- There are rumors of a potential political restructuring within the All Progressives Congress (APC), with focus on factions that originated from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged with other parties to form the APC in 2013.
- The departure of some CPC-aligned members to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has fueled speculation of an impending split within the ruling party.
- In a significant visit, Abubakar, El-Rufai, and other influential figures met with former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, a move perceived as an attempt to secure Buhari's endorsement for the opposition coalition.
- The delegation included notable figures like Governor Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo).
- Lawal maintains that the opposition's political influence is causing anxiety within Tinubu's inner circle, stating that they are aware of the opposition's potential to defeat Tinubu in the upcoming elections.
- Lawal argued that the banning of songs by popular musician Idris Abdulkareem is a sign of the administration's insecurity, indicating a desperate and desperate government that doesn't play by the rules.
