Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), has warned against intrigues to stop Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress from contesting for the Presidency in 2023.
For Lawal, no one has the right to stop Tinubu from contesting for the coveted office in 2023.
Lawal, in an interview with PUNCH said the removal of Adams Oshiomhole as APC national chairman was part of the intrigues to frustrate Tinubu’s alleged ambition.
The former SGF believes that those who instigated Oshiomhole’s removal are interested in the party’s candidate for 2023 presidential election.
Rumours of Tinubu’s presidential ambition have refused to go away despite the former governor of Lagos that statement that he had not made up his mind on the subject.
Although there is a certain persuasion in the party who determined to ensure that the powerful Southwest politician does not get the ticket. They prefer that the ticket goes to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo or Minister of Works Babatunde Fasola, two eminently qualified persons from the region or that power shifts to South East, which has been clamouring for the post for the sake of equity.
But for the ex-SGF, the party should give all aspirants equal and fair chances.
“Those who wanted Adams Oshiohmole out are more desperate because of 2023 because as a national chairman of a party, from my our own observation, there’s very little he could do to favour or impose a presidential candidate on his party,” he said.
“Except we want to bring the wrath of God on our heads, because of his role in building the party, equity and a sense of justice demand that he be given a chance in a free and fair system and let his luck prevail.
“Nobody with a clear conscience in the APC will deny Tinubu the opportunity to contest the Presidency. Nobody within the party has the moral right to even put a stumbling block on his path. The party must create an environment that is free and fair for anybody who wants to contest, including Bola Tinubu. Let the delegates, who must have emerged through a similarly free and fair process, decide who they want to vote for.”
Lawal also believes that the proper thi g is for power to shift to the south.
He said there had been no significant improvement under different presidents from the north, and urged the sustenance of the gentleman’s agreement on power shift between North and South.
He said, “A just and equitable way of doing things is to agree, as gentlemen, that since the North has had its President for the second tenure, the opportunity should be given to the South to produce the next President.
“By the way, what did we get from several years of governance with the Presidency being from the North? Since the demise of General Sani Abacha, the country has been into crises of insecurity and poor economy.
“Along the line, we have also had vice-presidents who were northerners. We have had presidents who were northerners but for whatever reason, the system is not improving. Presidency from the North is like an albatross around our neck.”
