Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, articulated his staunch resistance to Nigeria’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, attributing it to fears of galvanizing radical Islamic elements within the society.
Lawal detailed the motivations fueling their collective dissent against the same-faith arrangement. “One key factor driving our objection to the Muslim-Muslim ticket was its potential to embolden Islamic fundamentalists, granting them the momentum and boldness to press forward, convinced that this administration now belongs to them,” he remarked. “They perceive it as an official endorsement from the highest echelons of power.”
The ex-SGF highlighted the ripple effects of such a choice, cautioning against its downstream repercussions. “This essentially provides them with a pretext to escalate their actions unchecked. Such scenarios do unfold in reality,” Lawal observed, underscoring the tangible risks posed to national harmony.
To drive his argument home, Lawal recounted a vivid anecdote from his tenure. “On one occasion, I shared how a Fulani herder trespassed onto my farmland with his cattle; we apprehended him and escorted him to the local police outpost, yet he brazenly asserted, ‘Do you honestly believe I’d venture onto your property without clearance from above? This is our regime now,'” he narrated, evoking the sheer nerve displayed.
Lawal stressed the particularly galling nature of the confrontation, given his influential role at the time. “Even as the sitting SGF, it was infuriating to hear a Fulani individual claim that President Buhari had sanctioned his intrusion onto my land,” he added, reflecting on the audacity that permeated the exchange.
He delved into the underlying psychology fueling such behavior: “From his limited educational perspective, he interpreted the president’s Muslim identity as a blanket license to act with impunity, evading any repercussions for his deeds.”
Lawal then bridged this personal episode to the broader socio-political landscape today. “This exemplifies the fallout from the Muslim-Muslim ticket. It has instilled in them the audacity to push boundaries to the extreme: harassing individuals, bullying those who resist, and resorting to violence against anyone who stands firm,” he concluded, framing the ticket as a catalyst for escalating persecution and insecurity.
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