Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has revealed details of a conversation he had with Nigeria’s late president, Muhammadu Buhari, concerning his political relationship with current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking in a video shared by Channels Television, Lawal recounted that shortly before Buhari’s death, the former president cautioned him about the likelihood of future political disagreements with Tinubu. According to Lawal, Buhari acknowledged that differences could arise but stressed the importance of maintaining boundaries in how such disagreements are handled.
Lawal explained that Buhari advised him to ensure that any political conflict with Tinubu should remain strictly within the realm of policy and governance, rather than becoming personal. He said the late president urged him to avoid personal attacks and instead focus on issues that affect the country and its leadership.
Reflecting on that conversation, Lawal said he made a commitment to Buhari to follow that guidance. He noted that this promise has influenced his approach to political criticism, as he has deliberately confined his remarks about Tinubu to political matters rather than personal ones.
Quoting his exchange with Buhari, Lawal said the late president told him, “You are going to fight your friend politically; please promise me you will not go personal with your fight.” Lawal stated that he agreed to this condition and has since upheld it in his public engagements.
His remarks provide insight into the dynamics among key political figures in Nigeria and highlight an emphasis, at least in principle, on maintaining civility in political discourse despite differences in ideology or governance approach.
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