by Atiku Abubakar (GCON)
Over the past weeks, my attention has been drawn to a series of comments made by
the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and immediate past National
Vice-Chairman (North-East) of our great party, the ADC, Mr. Babachir David Lawal,
following the presidential primaries of our party held on the 25th of May, 2026.
Over several media appearances and press statements, Mr. Lawal made several
provocative statements that were clearly derogatory and patently defamatory. But what many years of public life has taught me is the value of restraint even in the face of provocations.
I would have ignored him altogether; however, at a time when our politics has become increasingly polarising and divisive, driven essentially by the kind of demagoguery that Mr. Lawal has exhibited, silence can too easily be misconstrued. It is therefore important to clarify a few issues, both for the benefit of the general public and for the records.
Throughout my years in public service and private enterprise, I have remained steadfast in the belief that the greatest strength of Nigeria lies in the richness of her diversity and the boundless potential of all her people. Regardless of ethnicity, region, language, or faith, I have consistently maintained that every Nigerian deserves an equal opportunity
to contribute to the progress and prosperity of our nation.
This conviction is not a matter of political convenience; it is a principle that has guided
my life. It is reflected in my family, in the teams I have assembled over the years, and in the extensive networks of friends, colleagues and supporters that I have built over several decades across the length and breadth of our great country.
When, in 1999, I secured the gubernatorial ticket of the People’s Democratic Party in Adamawa State, I was subsequently called upon to serve as the running mate to His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR. In my place, I actively supported the emergence of His Excellency Boni Haruna, a committed Christian, as the party’s gubernatorial candidate and, ultimately, Governor of Adamawa State.
I recount this episode not in search of applause, nor to claim any special virtue. Rather, I do so to underscore a simple truth: throughout my career, I have never judged individuals by the faith they profess or the ethnic group from which they come. What has always mattered to me is character, competence, integrity, and the capacity to serve.
It is therefore deeply disappointing that at a moment when our nation is confronted by insecurity, a crippling cost-of-living crisis, youth unemployment, and other pressing existential challenges, a man who ought, by now, to embody the wisdom and restraint of statesmanship has instead chosen to fan the embers of ethnicity and religious bigotry
to pursue whatever personal grievances he habours or whatever agenda he has set for
himself.
Nigeria deserves better.
Our people deserve leaders who unite rather than divide; who build bridges rather than
deepen fault lines; who inspire confidence in our common future rather than exploit our
differences for fleeting political agenda.
Over the last few days, as Mr. Lawal has made his rounds across various television platforms,
he has also made a number of allegations that are not only false, but plainly defamatory. I
have received counsel from many quarters urging me to seek legal redress. Such advice is
understandable.
However, I have chosen a different path.
I have chosen not to dignify every reckless utterance with litigation, nor to burden our courts
with matters that no right-thinking member of the public would attach any significance to.
More importantly, I remain convinced that what is at stake in our country today transcends personal grievances. The grim reality of daily existence for majority of Nigerians is more painful than any personal injuries. My focus therefore remains where it has always been: on the urgent task of building a safer, more prosperous, and more united Nigeria.
I bear no ill-will towards Mr. Lawal. Indeed, I wish him well. But I would respectfully urge him, and others who may be tempted to follow a similar course, to reflect on the consequences of rhetoric that divides our people along ethnic and religious lines. The task of nation building will not be completed in our life time. But we can lay a solid foundation if we refrain from weaponizing religious and ethnic differences for political gains and desist from stoking the embers of fear and suspicion among our peoples.
As for me, I shall remain committed to the politics of inclusion, national unity, and mutual respect. I will continue to judge Nigerians not by where they come from, how they worship, or what language they speak, but by their ability and willingness to contribute to the advancement of our beloved country.
Mr. Lawal has anchored his grievances on the recently concluded party primaries. However, it appears that this has only served as mere pretext for long-held animosities. I have reached out to my brothers who contested with me and we have all agreed to rise above our political differences and work together in the interest of the party and the country. I extend a similar hand of fellowship to Mr. Lawal, regardless. Nevertheless, I will still encourage him to make
available to the party or to the public any credible evidence he may have in his possession to back up his claims regarding the primaries.
In conclusion, I believe that personalities will fade, political contests will come and go, and today’s controversies will pass into memory. What will endure is the kind of nation we leave behind for future generations. May we all, regardless of our differences, choose to be
remembered as those who strengthened the bonds of our common humanity rather than those who sought to weaken them.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Signed:
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON),
Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress,
Vice President of Nigeria (1999 – 2007)
