Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, accusing him of encouraging ethnic division and making unsubstantiated claims that could further polarise the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described Lawal’s recent comments as lacking evidence and relying heavily on ethnic profiling and provocative rhetoric to attack political opponents.
According to Atiku, one of the most disturbing aspects of Lawal’s remarks was what he viewed as an attempt to associate an entire ethnic group with the criminal actions of a few individuals.
“It was both dangerous and irresponsible to suggest that any Nigerian should be judged, condemned, or held accountable for crimes committed by individuals simply because they share a common ancestry,” Atiku said.
He argued that such views threaten national unity and risk deepening existing divisions in a country already facing security, economic and political challenges.
“By such flawed reasoning, every ethnic nationality in Nigeria could be collectively blamed for the actions of a few criminal elements within their communities, a mindset that has historically fuelled division and undermined national unity,” he added.
The exchange comes amid increasing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general election, as opposition figures continue to reposition themselves within the country’s evolving political landscape.
Atiku also pointed to what he described as contradictions in Lawal’s public statements, noting that the former SGF had reportedly granted interviews on the same day he criticised him, claiming that several governors were interested in bringing him back into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: which Babachir should they believe? The Babachir who claims to be a victim of political conspiracies and ethnic domination, or the Babachir who boasts that governors are scrambling for his services?” Atiku queried.
“One moment, he presents himself as a lonely patriot standing against an imagined threat to Nigeria.
The next moment, he portrays himself as a prized political asset being courted by powerful governors. Such contradictions expose a man struggling to reconcile personal disappointment with political reality”, he said.
The former vice president further accused Lawal of attempting to stigmatise the Fulani ethnic group despite having served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is of Fulani extraction.
He noted that Buhari appointed Lawal as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, describing it as the highest public office he occupied.
“At no point did Mr Lawal object to receiving such trust and elevation from a Fulani President. He accepted the office, the privileges, and the prestige that came with it.
It is therefore difficult to understand why he now seeks to stigmatise an entire ethnic group merely because another Fulani man seeks the presidency through democratic means,” he stated.
Atiku also rejected claims that he had been indifferent to victims of violence across the country, maintaining that his record reflected consistent support for communities affected by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflicts.
Referring to attacks on Kagoro in Southern Kaduna, he said he attended a church thanksgiving service in solidarity with victims and their families.
“When tragedy struck the people of Kagoro in Southern Kaduna, I did not ask whether the victims were Christians or Muslims, northerners or southerners, Fulani or non-Fulani.
Instead, I attended a church Thanksgiving service to identify with the grieving community, commiserate with families affected by the violence, and demonstrate solidarity with fellow Nigerians in their moment of pain.
“Leadership is not about counting tribes or measuring faith. It is about standing with people in moments of difficulty, regardless of their ethnic or religious identity. That has always been my approach, and it will continue to be,” he stated.
Atiku further highlighted his contributions to education and humanitarian causes, particularly his intervention following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram insurgents.
He recalled facilitating scholarships for some of the girls at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, adding that many had since graduated and rebuilt their lives.
“Those young women are living proof that compassion is more powerful than bitterness and that nation-building requires action, not merely rhetoric.
While some people chose to exploit national tragedies for political narratives, others chose to invest in healing and hope,” he said.
Defending his credentials as an entrepreneur, Atiku dismissed criticisms of his business achievements.
“The American University of Nigeria stands as a visible and enduring monument to what private initiative can achieve.
Thousands of graduates and their families are beneficiaries of that vision. No amount of political bitterness can erase those facts,” he added.
The former vice president also expressed displeasure with Lawal’s comments, describing them as evidence of growing resentment.
“His heart appears full of bitterness, and his public utterances increasingly reflect anger rather than reason, grievance rather than evidence.
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While we do not share his hostility, we genuinely pity him. Politics should not reduce a man to a permanent state of outrage.
“Mr Lawal would be better served by stepping away from the politics of hate and embracing the kind of reflection and personal healing that can restore perspective and balance. Nigeria needs statesmen, not merchants of bitterness,” he added.
Atiku reiterated his call for unity and warned against ethnic and religious stereotyping in political discussions.
“Nigeria deserves a conversation about the future, not endless bitterness about the past. Our people deserve leaders who unite rather than divide, heal rather than inflame, and build rather than destroy,” he said.
Atiku noted, “Babachir may see tribe. I see Nigerians. Babachir may see division. I see a nation that must come together if it is to overcome its present challenges.
That is the difference between politics driven by resentment and leadership driven by purpose.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to building a country where all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, religion, region or social status, enjoy equal opportunity, protection and dignity under the law.
Atiku’s response followed a Facebook post by Lawal titled Kachalla II, in which the former SGF questioned the ex-vice president’s suitability for the presidency.
In the post, Babachir said of Atiku, “It is my right to interrogate the character and competence of someone who seeks to be my President. He is free to step down his ambition if he does not want to be so queried.
“I will urge ADC to replace this man with a more qualified candidate if they want to have any hope of winning the presidential election before the Independent National Electoral Commission timetable runs out on them,” he noted.