Word for Babachir Lawal By Femi Fani-Kayode
At a time when the entire nation is celebrating and expressing pride over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s historic two-day visit to Rome to attend the inaugural Mass of the newly installed Pope Leo XIV, it is deeply disappointing that Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has described the President’s attendance as a “non-event,” further alleging that it was only made possible through the work of lobbyists.
I have always respected Babachir and regarded him as a friend. However, I am constrained to ask: has he lost all sense of reason?
He has blatantly refused to acknowledge the fact that, as I rightly noted on X (formerly Twitter) on the day of the President’s visit, no Nigerian Head of State has ever honoured the Vatican or the Pope in this way. Neither has any Nigerian President been granted such an honour by the Vatican—to attend, in person, such a momentous occasion.
That President Tinubu chose to go, despite being a practising Muslim, speaks volumes about his character and leadership. It reflects positively on Nigeria as a nation committed to religious tolerance and unity. It is a clear indication that, even with both a Muslim President and Vice President, the Christian community is treated with the utmost dignity and respect.
This is precisely what I expected. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Catholic Church publicly commended President Tinubu for the visit, as did millions of Christians across Nigeria. Is Babachir more knowledgeable or discerning than all of them? Who exactly does he think he is?
It is worth noting that individuals like Babachir had once peddled the narrative that Christians would be sidelined under this administration. Yet, the reverse has been the case. Under the Tinubu/Shettima presidency, Christians have not only been treated fairly but have been given pride of place—far more than what can be said of the administration Babachir once served.
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Having a Christian Vice President, as symbolic as that might seem, is not what guarantees religious inclusion. What matters is having leaders—regardless of their faith—who are genuinely committed to equity, justice, and fairness for all Nigerians.
During President Buhari’s administration, despite having a Christian Vice President in Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Christians were massacred across the North. Worse still, the entire leadership of our military and security agencies was dominated exclusively by Northern Muslims. That imbalance was a national disgrace.
Yet, under President Tinubu, this anomaly has been corrected. The current structure of our Armed Forces and security agencies reflects inclusivity and fairness. Babachir should be the last person complaining about religious marginalization. If anything, he ought to repent from his own past failures and bitterness and seek healing from the resentment he so often projects.
He does not speak for the Christian community and must stop viewing every issue of national governance through a narrow religious lens.
Most recently, Babachir’s disparaging and disrespectful description of Vice President Kashim Shettima as a “flat spare tyre” did not go unnoticed. I am not the Vice President’s spokesperson, and I know he is more than capable of defending himself. Still, one would expect a man of Babachir’s age and former stature to exhibit greater decorum.
Instead, he has exposed himself as both uncouth and petty. If he must look for “flat spare tyres” or even “chicken-hearted ice cream sellers,” he would do well to reflect on the Vice President under whom he happily served—not on Kashim Shettima, who has so far demonstrated strength, loyalty, and remarkable competence.
Unlike the VP Babachir served, Shettima has not turned a blind eye or remained silent in the face of mass killings of both Christians and Muslims. He did not hide under the bed during the dark days of unpunished terrorism under the last regime.
Babachir has every right to criticize the current administration if he so wishes. That is democracy. But he should not do so under the guise of defending Christianity. That, in itself, is a greater insult to the faith.
He would be wise to stop before he provokes a more vigorous and pointed response.
Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), a former Aviation Minister is APC chieftan
