Former President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly feared that his former deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, might adopt President Bola Tinubu’s approach to political appointments if he became president, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has claimed.
Lawal said Buhari’s reservations were partly linked to what he described as Osinbajo’s preference for appointing people associated with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where the former vice-president serves as an ordained senior pastor.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni TV, Lawal recounted incidents he said exposed Buhari’s concerns about the composition of appointments made during their administration.
He recalled that Osinbajo had submitted a memo containing about 28 names for his take-off staff, but the document allegedly remained unforwarded to Buhari for roughly three months.
Lawal said he eventually obtained a photocopy of the memo from Abba Kyari, Buhari’s late Chief of Staff, and took it to the president.
According to him, Buhari examined the list and remarked, “Bidi, these are all Yorubas.”
Lawal said he urged Buhari to approve the appointments, explaining that Osinbajo was new to government and needed staff to begin his work. He claimed Buhari eventually gave his approval following the intervention.
However, Lawal alleged that concerns over Osinbajo’s appointments persisted, particularly where nominees were connected to the vice-president’s church.
He also accused Osinbajo of reversing some appointments Buhari had approved while the president was away receiving medical treatment. Lawal claimed Buhari was informed of the changes and sought their reversal but later chose not to pursue the matter.
The former SGF further said some traditional church leaders in northern Nigeria had complained to Buhari that they were being overlooked for appointments despite their religious affiliation and support for his administration.
He claimed Osinbajo later asked him to recommend a candidate from the region’s traditional churches for an administrative position. Although Lawal said he recommended a former seminary lecturer, he alleged that the individual was subsequently sidelined.
Lawal believes the alleged pattern of appointments affected Buhari’s perception of Osinbajo as a possible successor.
“I suspect that this excessive preference for his church members would affect Buhari,” he said.
He added that Buhari’s reactions led him to believe the former president was concerned that Osinbajo might replicate Tinubu’s approach to appointments if he eventually assumed the presidency.
“From his actions and his body language, I could see that he was scared that if Osinbajo became president, what Bola is doing, he will do,” Lawal said.
The claims represent Lawal’s account of the former administration’s internal dynamics and have not been independently verified in the material provided.