The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, of allowing “post-primary bitterness” to cloud his judgement following his criticism of the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that “no amount of post-primary bitterness can alter reality.”
The position was contained in a statement signed and released by Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the Presidential Candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, in response to comments made by Babachir over the outcome of the party’s recent presidential election process.
“The 2027 election will not be decided by tantrums, ethnic dog whistles, recycled grievances, or revisionist history. It will be decided by the Nigerian people. And no amount of post-primary bitterness can alter that reality,”
The Atiku media office said Babachir’s remarks amounted to “a lengthy and emotionally charged outburst” and described his allegations against the primary election as unfounded.
“Ordinarily, Mr. Lawal’s latest excursion into political fiction would not merit a response. However, having chosen to malign a democratic process, insult thousands of ADC members nationwide, and make grave allegations without presenting a shred of evidence, it has become necessary to set the record straight,” the statement said.
The statement argued that it was ironic for Babachir to present himself as an advocate of transparency and democratic values, given the circumstances surrounding his exit from public office.
“It is perhaps the greatest irony of this entire episode that Mr. Babachir Lawal now seeks to reinvent himself as Nigeria’s newest apostle of integrity, transparency, and democratic virtue. Nigerians may forgive many things, but they seldom forget history.
“Mr. Lawal is not remembered for any celebrated crusade for accountability. Rather, he remains one of the most prominent public officials ever removed from office under the cloud of the infamous grass-cutting contract scandal.”
According to the statement, Babachir’s public service record makes his criticism of the ADC primary process difficult to reconcile.
