Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has declared that Nigeria will be doomed if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is re-elected into power in 2027.
Babachir Lawal made the assertion in Bauchi on Tuesday, at the Ramat House, Presidential Lodge of Government House, after a closed-door meeting with the Governor of Bauchi State, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abubakar Y Suleiman, Deputy National Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hamza Koshe Akuyam, State Chairman, Pharmacist Samaila Adamu Burga, and members of the State Executive Council on the possibility of joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking, he stated that “We are here in Bauchi today at the instance of our leader, Senator David Mark, the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).”
According to him, “Senator Mark sent us here because he’s fully aware that the coming battle between us in 2027 to elect new people to lead Nigeria can only be successful if all the various segments of the country that have good intentions and goodwill towards the Nigerians are able to unite to stand and resist the impending disaster that is waiting for us in 2027.”
He stressed that, “We are fully aware that if we make a mistake and allow this government to continue post-2027, Nigeria will probably be no more as we know it.”
“By then, we probably will be packing people of starvation in trailers. By then, we’ll be packing people in trailers who are unable to afford medical services and everything, and the insurgency will get to the level that they will be running from room to room, harassing and killing and maiming people,” he added.
The former Scribe added, “So, with this in mind, Senator David Mark sent us to speak to the current Bauchi State Governor to join the ADC because he’s a noted fighter; he’s a warrior; he’s fearless. And his synergies will contribute to what we already have in ADC. And so that’s why we are here.”
According to him, “We’ve had very fruitful discussions in a very friendly, brotherly manner. We understand the task before every Nigerian and the task before Kauram Bauchi as a Governor, that, when he joins ADC, he will be one of our field commanders. And that’s why we are here. And as I said, we’ve received a very warm reception, and we thank you for it. And we hope that the subsequent discussions will be concluded by our massive registration of the people of Bauchi, as did happen in Kano yesterday.”
He concluded, “We know that the entry of Kauram Bauchi into ADC will frighten this government to the extent that they will manipulate the situation and what they intend to do to rig the 2027 elections. But we are all Nigerians, and we know the strength of every one of us. We are confident that if we carry our agenda, we will have invited the state party-ready people to confront this government, and victory will be ours. Thank you very much.”
In his response, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, stated, “The elder statesman has said it all. I’m here this morning with a delegation from the ADC headquarters, where my mentor, my boss, Senator David Mark, is leading, and he has sent an olive leaf to me to reconnect me with the umbilical cord of the opposition, where I have always emerged from.”
Bala Mohammed lamented, “Sadly, as a leader in the PDP, we have found ourselves really in a very serious ambivalence, where our party is headless, and of course, I have pursued all avenues for reconciliation, but it has not worked, and our people are putting me under extreme pressure.”
According to him, “And we have set up two committees, one in Abuja at the national level, because of my position as a leader of the party on the other side, and one here in Bauchi, to look at where to go. We laid all our options on the ground, including the APC itself, but sadly, we have discovered that we cannot be where we are not wanted. We have to find a place within the opposition.”
“That’s where our future and political destiny are taking us. And ADC appears to be a very enduring and, of course, alluring and more acceptable platform by the people that are talking to me so far. And because I’m managing two constituencies, both here and the federal, so that we don’t make mistakes. And that’s where we are,” he added.
The governor further stated, “We are very grateful for that recognition, because when you are facing a very serious political problem like ours, and somebody offers a hand, we are very modest, and our humility is so that we are nothing until we go to the field.”
He stressed, “We believe in winning elections, and elections are done at the polling unit, and won at the polling unit, and we are not scared of anybody. We have done all we could do to be able to go for self-preservation, to sketch it, and of course, I am a political participant, but it is not working.”
Bala Mohammed added, “Therefore, we have to face the challenges of this existential solution that is being provided to us by ADC. We, on behalf of the people and government of Bauchi State, and indeed the PDP, the other party that helped me to scout, thank the National Chairman of the ADC for offering this opportunity to us.”
The ADC delegation included former minister Sen Batagarwa, Sen Tunde Ogbeha, and other leaders of the party.
