“He Didn’t Pay My School Fees” — Babachir Lawal Speaks On Why He Didn’t Follow Obi To NDC

Akanni Toba

Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has broken his silence on why he did not follow his erstwhile ally and former governor of Anambra, Peter Obi, to exit the coalition movement and join the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

Lawal noted that his past support for Obi in there 2023 elections should not automatically translate into eternal political ties or alignment with the ex-Anambra governor.

He stressed that his politics is driven  by personal convictions rather than loyalty to any figure or other primordial considerations adding that Obi did not sponsor his education and therefore has no right demand eternal allegiance from him.

The former SGF spoke on Tuesday during a Prime Time interview on Arise Television.

“I was never a member of the Labour Party throughout the time I was supporting Peter Obi. It just so happened that at that particular time in that election cycle, our goals aligned, and we felt that we could support each other and pursue the same goal.

“It’s not as if Peter Obi is the best product that a political party can produce to be president. There are so many other people that can make good presidential material in this country.”

“I didn’t join politics because of him… there’s no way I can tie my own ambitions, my own political inclinations to one person,” he said.

Lawal continued, “He didn’t pay my school fees. He has never given me a bag of rice to eat in my house. So I don’t understand how you would say that, because Peter Obi has left, I should follow him.”

Lawal’s remarks came a couple of days after  Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, quit the ADC and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The duo justified their defection by citing the ADC’s “endless litigations and internal battles” and what they described as “uncertainties regarding the party’s future.

But dismissing the claims, Lawal attributed Obi’s exit from the party to what he described as a fear of open contest.

“I don’t think it is suspicion; I think it’s fear. And a democrat, a politician who fears election, I think, has no business being one,” Lawal said.

“He doesn’t want to participate in primaries; he prefers to be a consensus candidate, and that consensus must be him.” he added.