Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu was afraid of late former President Muhammadu Buhari and became depressed prior to the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primary over claims that Buhari was backing another aspirant.

Lawal made the revelation during an interview with Symfoni TV released on Saturday, while recounting events leading up to the APC presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general election.

According to Lawal, following Buhari’s recovery from illness, there was a vacuum around the presidency which some individuals exploited by falsely claiming they had the former president’s endorsement on behalf of various presidential aspirants.

He alleged that the individuals demanded huge sums of money from candidates, claiming they could influence Buhari through people close to him.

Lawal said Tinubu was affected by the rumours and would sometimes become depressed after being told Buhari had endorsed another contender.

He, however, said he repeatedly assured Tinubu that the claims were false and encouraged him to verify the information directly with Buhari.

According to Lawal, Tinubu was reluctant to approach the former president because he was afraid of him and did not want to confront him over such issues.

He added that former Osun State Governor and APC chieftain, Chief Bisi Akande, who enjoyed Buhari’s trust and respect, often intervened by speaking with the late former president and relaying his position to Tinubu.

Lawal said Akande’s feedback usually confirmed the assurances he had earlier given Tinubu, helping to dispel the rumours circulating during the party’s presidential nomination process.

Lawal said, “I tell you what happened. By that time, a lot of things around Buhari had fallen into pieces. He had come back, recovered from his illness and his old age and normal stamina to do things he wants to do, including brain.

“So he was aloof to the issues of governance, and when that vacuum is created, small pockets of influence begin to…people started peddling influence.

“They would come to any of the candidates and say, “Hey, I was with the president yesterday, and we’re discussing the candidates, and it is you he wants. He says it’s you.

“However, you know Buhari, there’s this lady whom Buhari must just always listen to. We know how to get to her. As an example, if we get like N500 million, she will do something for you.”

“And they started to part with the big money. And they would try that with Asiwaju, and Asiwaju probably will go into depression.

“And somehow when I hear, I go back to tell him it’s a lie. These people are just lying to you. Let’s go and see him (Buhari).

“He (Tinubu) doesn’t like to go to see Buhari for whatever reason. He was afraid of Buhari, so he doesn’t like to force Buhari on such matters.

“Whatever he tells you, it’s Bisi Akande whom Buhari respected a lot and trusts. It was Bisi Akande whom we will convince, and he will go in and talk and come back and usually reinforce what I had just told him yesterday or so.”

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to introduce a more effective and citizen-friendly framework for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, ahead of the governorship election in the state.

Oyintiloye also urged the electorate not to be discouraged by the cumbersome PVC collection process, encouraging those yet to collect their cards to do so and turn out en masse to vote peacefully for the candidates of their choice.

The former lawmaker, who spoke with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, said the current process has subjected many eligible voters to unnecessary hardship during collection.

He noted that simplifying the PVC collection process will boost voter turnout and enable more citizens exercise their constitutional rights during the election.

He also told voters not to submit themselves to fear due to the reports of intimidation.

“No individual or group should be allowed to undermine the democratic process through acts capable of causing panic or discouraging lawful participation in the election,” he said.

Oyintiloye called on security agencies “to remain vigilant and professional in safeguarding lives and property before, during and after the poll.”

He urged them to ensure that anyone engaging in violence, intimidation or any act capable of disrupting the electoral process is brought to justice.

On the prospects of the APC in the poll, Oyintiloye expressed optimism that the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, AMBO, would emerge victorious, citing widespread acceptance and support across the state.

He said the goodwill and enthusiasm shown by residents indicated strong confidence in the APC candidate. “The party is on course for victory.”

Oyintiloye who maintained that the journey back to government has commenced for APC, expressed confidence that voters would democratically elect Oyebamiji as the next governor of the state.

African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over its “unprecedented domestic borrowing” despite the significant windfall accruing from high international crude oil prices.

Atiku described the administration’s economic management as contradictory, opaque, and bereft of fiscal discipline.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu,
Atiku noted that the Federal Government has already raised about N5 trillion from the domestic bond market in the first half of 202, “almost 80 per cent of the total amount borrowed during the corresponding period in 2025.”

According to Atiku, such aggressive borrowing would only be understandable if government revenues had collapsed.

“The exact opposite is the case,” he said.

The former Vice President pointed out that while the 2026 Appropriation Act benchmarked crude oil at $64.84 per barrel, the average price of Brent crude, the benchmark for Nigerian oil has remained around $92 per barrel between March 1 and July 14. Nigerian crude typically trades at a premium above Brent, making the government’s earnings even higher.

He said: “This naturally raises two unavoidable questions.

“First, why is a government enjoying such an extraordinary oil windfall borrowing at almost twice last year’s pace as though the nation were in financial distress? Second, where is the money?”

Atiku explained that the difference between the budget benchmark and prevailing oil prices amounts to an additional $27.15 on every barrel of crude sold.

“At an average production of 1.5 million barrels per day, Nigeria earns an estimated $42.7 million in additional revenue daily.

“Over the 135-day period between March 1 and July 14, this translates to approximately $5.76 billion, or about N7.98 trillion.

“Nigerians deserve a full accounting of this windfall. Where has the money gone? Why is there no transparent disclosure of the proceeds from excess crude sales? Why is government borrowing heavily when oil revenues are significantly above budget projections?” He asked.

Atiku recalled that previous administrations maintained clear mechanisms for warehousing and reporting excess crude earnings through the Sovereign Wealth Fund and other established fiscal buffers.

“Today, Nigerians have been left completely in the dark. A government that cannot explain what it has done with an estimated N7.98 trillion in additional oil receipts has no moral authority to continue plunging the country deeper into debt,” he stated.

The former Vice President further lamented that despite the huge oil windfall and the removal of fuel subsidy, millions of Nigerians continue to face worsening hardship.

He noted that recent United Nations findings indicate that about 80 per cent of Nigerians cannot afford a decent meal each day, while infrastructure continues to deteriorate despite repeated promises that subsidy savings would be invested in roads, healthcare, education, and other critical sectors.

“It is increasingly evident that this administration lacks the competence, discipline, and transparency required to manage the nation’s resources.

“Rather than allowing Nigerians to benefit from favourable global oil prices, it has chosen the path of endless borrowing, mounting debt, and deepening poverty.

“An ADC administration under my leadership will pursue a fundamentally different approach. Every kobo earned above the budget oil benchmark will be transparently accounted for and managed under a rules-based fiscal framework.

“Rather than borrowing recklessly in the midst of plenty, we will deploy excess revenues to reduce the nation’s debt burden, strengthen our fiscal buffers, and invest strategically in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and other productive sectors that create jobs and stimulate sustainable economic growth.

“We will restore transparency in the management of oil revenues by publishing regular reports on excess crude earnings and ensuring that public finances are subject to the highest standards of accountability.

“We will cut the cost of governance, eliminate waste, block leakages, and ensure that borrowing is undertaken only for productive investments capable of generating measurable economic returns, not to finance consumption or conceal fiscal irresponsibility.

“Nigerians deserve answers. They deserve accountability. Above all, they deserve a government that manages national wealth in the public interest, not one that presides over unprecedented opacity while asking future generations to repay debts incurred in the midst of plenty,” Atiku said.