By FrontNaija News Abuja – Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, calling it a deviation from the promises made to Nigerians and raising concerns over what he describes as growing disillusionment within the ruling party and its former allies.In a wide-ranging interview with The Punch, Lawal—an influential voice from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc and a key figure in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—touched on the current state of the nation, the controversial alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and the internal tensions that have fractured the once-united CPC faction within the APC.“This Is Not What We Promised Nigerians”Lawal expressed profound disappointment in the Tinubu administration, accusing it of betraying the hopes of the Nigerian people. According to him, the government’s economic policies, particularly the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, have plunged millions into hardship without providing tangible relief or a clear path forward.“This is not what we promised Nigerians,” Lawal lamented. “The change agenda that brought us into power has been completely derailed. Nigerians are suffering, and instead of solutions, we are seeing more of the same elite manipulation that has kept this country backward.”He further accused President Tinubu of marginalizing key northern stakeholders, particularly those from the CPC background who helped deliver electoral victories in the past.On Atiku-El-Rufai Coalition: “It’s Real and Strategic”The former SGF confirmed the existence of a political alignment between Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai, two political heavyweights from different ends of the ideological spectrum. While some have dismissed the talks as speculative, Lawal revealed that the coalition is not only real but strategically positioned to challenge Tinubu in 2027.“This is not just political gossip. There is a realignment happening behind the scenes. Atiku and El-Rufai are talking, and they are not alone. Many of us who feel betrayed are watching closely. Nigerians are yearning for an alternative,” Lawal said.He hinted that the coalition is rooted in a shared belief that Tinubu’s style of governance is overly Lagos-centric, lacking the nationalistic vision required to hold the fragile country together.CPC Bloc in DisarrayLawal also admitted that the once formidable CPC bloc that helped birth the APC is now in disarray, plagued by internal betrayals, broken promises, and a lack of representation in Tinubu’s government. He accused the president of surrounding himself with loyalists from his political base in the South-West while abandoning the diverse coalition that brought him to power.“CPC was supposed to be the ideological heart of the APC—focused on discipline, integrity, and service to the people. Today, that legacy is gone. We have become spectators in a government we helped build,” he lamented.He also took a swipe at some CPC figures who he said have chosen to remain silent or complicit in the face of what he described as Tinubu’s “sectional leadership style.”Looking AheadBabachir Lawal’s revelations are likely to deepen political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, as discontent continues to brew across Nigeria’s political landscape. His remarks underscore a broader narrative of political re-alignment and growing dissatisfaction within the ruling party, even among its founding members.While the presidency has yet to respond to Lawal’s criticisms, political analysts believe his statements reflect a growing rift that could reshape Nigeria’s political future if not carefully managed.
