Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has criticized the current SGF, George Akume, for his recent comment claiming there is no vacancy in the Presidential Villa in 2027.
Akume, speaking on a TVC programme, had advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other northern political leaders to shelve their 2027 presidential ambitions and wait until 2031, when President Bola Tinubu would have completed his second term.
In an interview with Punch newspaper, Babachir Lawal said he did not hold Akume personally accountable for the statement, as he believes the comment reflects the views of someone benefiting from a dysfunctional political system. Lawal emphasized that Akume’s remark was simply a personal opinion and did not represent the views of any broader group or region.
“I did not blame Akume because he is just a spokesman of a system that is not working,” Lawal said. “He is speaking for himself, and it is his constitutional right to air his personal views, but his views do not represent anyone.”
Lawal’s comments reflect growing concerns about the political dynamics within the ruling party and the implications of statements made by high-ranking officials in the government.
