By Lizzy Chirkpi
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the principal financier of the election campaigns of former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, but said the President has undergone a profound transformation since assuming office.
Lawal made the claims in a viral video circulating on social media, in which he reflected on his longstanding relationship with Tinubu, describing him as a compassionate and generous leader before his election as President in 2023.
According to the former SGF, Tinubu played a decisive role in Buhari’s rise to power by funding his presidential campaign, financing Osinbajo’s vice-presidential campaign and engaging both local and international political consultants to shape Buhari’s public image.
“Tinubu funded Buhari’s campaign. Tinubu funded Osinbajo’s campaign. Tinubu hired consultants to work on Buhari’s image. Tinubu hired Obama’s campaign team to work for Buhari. Tinubu financed extra expenditures outside of the campaign,” Lawal said.
He portrayed Tinubu as a leader who was deeply committed to helping others before becoming President, recalling that he often went to extraordinary lengths to assist people in difficult situations.
“President Tinubu was an excellent human being before he became president. If you’re in a problem, he’ll go to whatever length to solve it. He was a good listener, took advice, and was kind. I used to liken him to Buhari because he was also very kind and sympathetic to people,” he stated.
Lawal, however, said the President’s character began to change in 2022 when he relocated to Abuja to pursue his presidential ambition.
According to him, Tinubu gradually became isolated from longtime associates and increasingly influenced by a new circle of advisers.
“He was an excellent human being, but he goes on to become president, and something happened. I know the time he changed, and I told him. Around 2022, Tinubu relocated to Abuja to pursue his presidential ambition, and our people, the northerners who were his friends, surrounded him, and he was caged,” he said.
Lawal further alleged that some of those around Tinubu introduced him to individuals he described as “religious bigots,” whom he blamed for altering the President’s outlook and decision-making.
“They introduced him to religious bigots who claimed they knew Buhari, and that was when he started changing. I had access to him then in Abuja,” he added.
Despite his criticism of the current administration, Lawal acknowledged Tinubu’s generosity, saying the President had supported many people financially without demanding immediate rewards.
According to him, Tinubu possessed a unique ability to identify potential in people and was willing to invest in them.
“He’s someone you can like. Bola has given some people a stupendous amount of money to help them out of crises without expecting anything. But the thing about Tinubu is that he has a gift. He can see in you future returns in advance. He does things like that,” he said.
The former SGF concluded by expressing disappointment over what he described as Tinubu’s transformation since assuming office, saying he no longer recognised the man he once knew.
“He was a good man at that time, but he has lost his soul now. 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 of whatever he’s looking for, the rest they can loot however they want. I wish he could go back to what he was before. Nigeria will be great.”
Lawal, a former ally of both Buhari and Tinubu, has in recent months become increasingly critical of the Tinubu administration and has aligned himself with opposition political figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His latest remarks come amid heightened political realignments and growing debate over the performance of the current administration.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not issued any official response to the allegations contained in the viral video.