Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and estranged ally of President Bola Tinubu, Babachir Lawal, claimed on Tuesday that dispersed pockets of frustration and malcontents were responsible for the current bad blood against President Tinubu and his administration. He urged the president to address the nation immediately and reshuffle his cabinet to address alleged nepotism in his appointments.
Lawal emphasized that the president’s broadcast should outline the challenges confronting the nation and provide immediate and long-term measures to address the economic issues facing the country. He believes this approach would help assuage organizers of the national protests and demonstrate the president’s seriousness in tackling economic challenges.
In a statement, Lawal called for a cabinet reshuffle to include a mix of technocrats and politicians, stressing that politicians are more adept at communicating with the people and have a greater stake in the government’s success or failure. He criticized the current administration for excessive nepotism, particularly the dominance of the Southwest in government positions.
Lawal expressed concern about the current Senate leadership’s intolerance of dissent, warning that this could lead to an imperceptible revolt. He cited the example of Senator Ndume, who criticized the president for being unreachable. Lawal also highlighted issues such as the mistreatment of Northern traditional institutions and unfair treatment of Igbo businesses in Lagos.
He urged the president to resolve political crises in Rivers State and other regions, noting that no similar unjust treatment has occurred in the Southwest. Lawal warned that these issues generate frustration and malcontents that contribute to the overall dissatisfaction with the president and his government.
Additionally, Lawal criticized the military for overstepping its constitutional role in internal security and warned against its interference in planned protests.
