Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has warned that President Bola Tinubu risks losing the 2027 election unless he addresses the growing discontent in the North.
In an exclusive interview, Lawal said Tinubu’s policies have worsened poverty and hardship in the region, making his re-election uncertain. He urged the President to change course and implement policies that would alleviate economic distress.
“Let him run a good programme that will remove the poverty in the land. It’s not about him but his bad policies. They are throwing every Nigerian, and particularly the North, into distress,” Lawal said.
Rising Northern Opposition
Opposition to Tinubu’s leadership has been growing in the North, with key figures such as Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), and other northern chieftains expressing dissatisfaction. The tension escalated after the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, warned northern politicians to abandon their presidential ambitions in 2027.
Lawal criticized the administration’s response to dissent, accusing Tinubu’s team of suppressing criticism rather than addressing the concerns of Nigerians.
“Unfortunately, when they give them a piece of advice, they will release their attack dogs and even his information managers to go after you,” Lawal said. “The right to even dissent is now a crime in northern Nigeria. He’s locking up all our boys that are publicly complaining about his policies. So, all these things also add to the tension in the North.”
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The ‘Goodluck Jonathan Treatment’ Threat
When asked about growing speculation that Tinubu might suffer the same political fate as former President Goodluck Jonathan, Lawal agreed that it was a real possibility. He noted that once the North reaches a consensus, it is difficult to reverse, regardless of financial inducements.
“As for the Goodluck Jonathan treatment, it is possible because they have a lot of money and possibly think they can use it to buy the votes and win the elections,” he explained. “Goodluck tried it by spending a lot of money, people collected the money and promised him they would deliver the votes. But they stayed at home and still didn’t vote.”
According to Lawal, history could repeat itself in 2027 if Tinubu does not win back the trust of the northern electorate.
“That was why you noticed that not many people came out and publicly campaigned for Goodluck Jonathan. So, we are also at that point. 2027 is going to be very interesting,” he added.
The Path to Reconciliation
Despite the growing opposition, Lawal suggested that Tinubu still has time to correct his course. He urged the President to listen to the grievances of Nigerians, particularly those in the North, and implement policies that ease economic hardship.
“If Tinubu were to change and Nigerians are happy, we will hail him. When you do the right thing, and Nigerians are happy, nobody will bother about how he came to government,” he said.
With the 2027 election fast approaching, the pressure on Tinubu to address northern concerns is mounting. Whether he will adjust his policies to regain their support remains to be seen.