Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has taken a swipe at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing him as someone who constantly sought recognition beyond his stature.
According to Lawal, “He’s a small man that will want to be recognized as a giant.”
The former SGF said he had known El-Rufai since their university days, noting that they studied in different departments but were familiar with one another on campus.
Lawal claimed he had observed what he described as El-Rufai’s “idiosyncrasies” and “character flaws” even during their time at the university, adding that those traits were evident long before he entered public office.
He explained that these early impressions had shaped his assessment of the former Kaduna governor over the years.
During the interview, Lawal also discussed the controversy surrounding a purported federal agency that was publicly disowned by the Presidency.
He said he became suspicious when the Chief of Staff to the President addressed the matter publicly, arguing that such a responsibility did not ordinarily fall within the office’s duties.
According to Lawal, his concerns increased after the presidential spokesman also defended the Chief of Staff’s position, saying the sequence of events suggested there was more to the issue than had been made public.
Beyond his remarks on El-Rufai, Lawal delivered a scathing assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as a failure after more than three years in office.
He cited worsening economic conditions, insecurity and widespread hardship as evidence that the government had not met Nigerians’ expectations.
The former SGF also commented on the country’s political outlook ahead of the 2027 general election, expressing support for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi while predicting defeat for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should he contest the presidency again.
Lawal’s comments come amid growing political realignments and increasing debate over the performance of the Tinubu administration and the prospects of opposition figures ahead of the next general election.