The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, of peddling substance-induced fabricated lies.
Atiku said Lawal’s verbal vituperation and the “utter rubbish churned out” would have been better ignored as the ranting of a “man high on substance,” but for the overriding need to set the record straight.
In a statement by his media office, Atiku explained that while Lawal has the right to resign from the ADC and is free to do so because political parties are voluntary associations of people, he is not entitled to cast aspersions on him based entirely on fabricated and brazen lies.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Atiku Media Office has been drawn to the needless and senseless attack on the person and character of the former Vice President of Nigeria and the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar.”
According to the statement, accusing Atiku of religious bigotry or nepotism is one of the laziest and most ridiculous lies anyone can spread about the former vice president.
The statement explained that Atiku is one of the most liberal politicians in Nigeria, and his record in this regard is there for anyone to verify.
“As far as we are concerned, Babachir was perfectly describing his own character rather than Atiku’s. The former SGF seeks power on the altar of dividing people based on primordial sentiments.
“All his altercations with people are caused by his selfishness. He opportunistically panders to sentiments to achieve his ambition. None of his struggles are influenced by the larger interests of his people or Nigeria,” the statement added.
The statement further noted that “a man who is a notorious conflict entrepreneur like Babachir Lawal is not qualified to speak about what is good for Nigeria.”
“When Babachir said he resigned from the ADC because of the so-called rigging or manipulation during the primaries, he didn’t offer any proof of his allegations.
“And instead of offering evidence of his allegations, he went further to drag Atiku’s family into the issue, which was irrelevant to the matter of the primaries.
“It’s evident from the load of garbage published by the former SGF that he holds personal animosity against Atiku Abubakar.”
