Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal has painted a contrasting picture of President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a compassionate and generous man before he took office. Speaking on Symfoni TV, Lawal said the president was once someone who listened carefully and would go to great lengths to solve people's problems.
Lawal compared Tinubu's former character to that of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, noting both men displayed kindness and sympathy toward others. "He was an excellent human being, but he went on to become president, and something happened," Lawal remarked.
The former SGF alleged that Tinubu's transformation began around 2022, when the president relocated to Abuja to pursue his presidential ambitions. He claimed that northern allies surrounded Tinubu during this period, limiting his interactions.
"Our people, the northerners who were his friends, surrounded him, and he was caged," Lawal told reporters. He added that religious figures claiming connections to Buhari gained influence over the president at this time.
According to Lawal, Tinubu was known for his generosity before becoming president. He said the president had given substantial sums of money to individuals facing financial difficulties without expecting anything in return.
"Bola has given some people a stupendous amount of money to help them out of crises without expecting anything," Lawal explained. He described Tinubu as someone with a special ability to foresee financial returns and opportunities.
Lawal expressed disappointment with the president's current conduct, suggesting that Tinubu has lost sight of his former values. "He's someone who's in charge all the time, but he doesn't look in charge anymore as long as he gets his own share," he said.
The former official suggested that the president prioritizes personal interests over national welfare, implying that corruption has worsened under his administration. He lamented that Tinubu appears indifferent to looting by those around him.
"The rest they can loot however they want. I wish he could go back to what he was before," Lawal stated.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria's fortunes would improve if the president returned to his previous principles and character.
