According to Israel Sunny-Goli, a former member of the House of Representatives, Babachir Lawal lacked the authority to criticize President Bola Tinubu’s travel to Rome.
According to reports, Tinubu’s travel to the Vatican for Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration last Sunday was deemed an affront to Nigerian Christians by Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The former SGF asserts that a Christian, not a Muslim, ought to have headed Nigeria’s trip to the Vatican.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket was an affront to Nigerian Christian communities, he continued, and Tinubu’s visit to the Vatican confirmed this.
Sunny-Goli said in a statement on Friday that Lawal had no moral authority to criticize the President.
Tinubu’s visit to the Vatican demonstrated religious harmony in the nation, according to the lawmaker who represented the Brass/Nembe seat in the House.
Lawal’s attack on the President, he said, was intended to restore his waning political significance.
He said: “The administration of Tinubu continues to emphasize unity, tolerance, and coexistence, reinforcing the necessity of a peaceful Nigeria.”
His visit to the Vatican, where he met with Pope Leo XIV for the investiture of the Holy Father, is the best example of his commitment to religious tolerance.
It is unfortunate that Mr. Babachir Lawal has choose to present himself as a moral authority rather than considering his term and previous difficulties.
“There are significant concerns regarding his trustworthiness in judging others given his well-documented dismissal as SGF in the past due to the notorious grass-cutting contract controversy.
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He also shown his lack of moral authority to criticize the president’s conduct by displaying religious discrimination in an appearance on Arise Television on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
“He still has very little political clout, especially in his own community. He pursues political relevance like a drowning man clutching at straws, and this must explain his desperation.
“Unity and respect for one another must be maintained at this critical juncture in Nigeria’s history. No amount of unwarranted criticism can undermine President Tinubu’s unshakeable dedication to inclusivity and his vision for a peaceful, forward-thinking country.
