By Ayodele Oni
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, not deterred by criticisms which trailed his declaration, Monday, that Peter Obi, not Bola Tinubu, won the Presidential Election of February 25, 2023, has again come hard on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). On Wednesday, he said the party can best be described as a pure Islamic party.
In the Wednesday statement issued in Abuja, Babachir Lawal challenged the ruling party to be courageous enough to change the name of the party from the All Progressives Congress to Islamic Party of Nigeria.
He accused the party of being insensitive and taking Nigerians for granted in unlawful ways the nomenclature of the party was thwarted to suit their purpose.
“I really do sympathize with a Christian who finds himself in an Islamic party and is desperate to please his masters, and probably to be noticed, when the next round of political appointments come.
“When we founded APC way back in 2013/2014, we envisaged it will be a national party that would carry along all the different socio-political and religious tendencies of the nation.
“In those days, we were careful not to sideline any of the religions or tribes of the country in the composition of the membership and leadership of the party.
‘We wanted a party that will embrace all Nigerians. It was this that informed the principle that both the National Chairman and Secretary will not be of the same religion, tribe or region.
“Sadly, APC has now transitioned into an Islamic Party of Nigeria. All the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from the North and some from the South are Muslims.
“They campaigned on an Islamization platform and are striving hard to run the government as such, but for the resistance of the other religions.
“All that is now left for the party is a change of name, but even this may not take long since it already has Kadmul Islam as its national chairman and a Muslim as its national secretary.
“The Deputy National Chairman North, who acts in the absence of the Chairman, National Organizing Secretary, National Legal Adviser, and three National Vice Chairmen and more, are Muslims. Good for them.
“And talking of electoral value, both the National Chairman and the National Secretary just dramatically lost in the February 25 election.
“Mallam Felix didn’t do well in his own constituency either. It is based on these considerations that I pity a Christian who finds himself in the position of a spokesperson of an Islamic party.
“Mark my words, all critical decisions will be taken behind his back during the afternoon prayer sessions, which he will be unable to attend.”
Babachir Lawal fell out with the APC and President Bola Tinubu over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Until then, he was a close friend of President Tinubu and a strong chieftain of the APC. He switched his support to Peter Obi, the LP Presidential Candidate during the Election.
