Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal has revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari delayed approving a memo containing 28 proposed names for the office of then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo because he believed most of the appointees were Yoruba and members of Osinbajo's church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Lawal made the disclosure during an interview with Symfoni TV, published on YouTube on Thursday, October 15.
Memo Held for Three Months, Abba Kyari Blamed
According to Lawal, the memo sat unapproved for approximately three months because the late Abba Kyari, who served as Buhari's chief of staff at the time, allegedly failed to forward it to the president. The delay became a talking point within the Presidential Villa until Lawal intervened by obtaining a photocopy of the document and presenting it directly to Buhari.
Lawal recalled telling Buhari: "I said, 'Oga, see the date my Oga sent a memo. You have not approved. What is the problem?'" The former SGF said Buhari then read through the memo and used a green biro to mark nearly all the names. "Out of 28, I think he ticked 26 with the green biro," Lawal stated, adding that Buhari told him: "BD, these are all Yorubas."
Lawal's Appeal Led to Approval
Lawal said he persuaded Buhari by pointing out that it was Osinbajo's first memo and that the vice-president had recently arrived from Lagos. He promised to discuss the concerns with Osinbajo, after which Buhari approved the memo. Lawal then informed the chief of staff that the president had given his authorisation.
The former SGF alleged that this was not an isolated incident. He claimed Buhari was particularly uneasy about appointments linked to Osinbajo's church, where Osinbajo had served as a pastor. Lawal said the head of that church congregation, the person who succeeded him, and a third individual who subsequently took over all received appointments after Osinbajo became vice-president.
Concerns Over Experience and Northern Christian Leaders
Lawal also alleged that some of those appointed lacked the experience required for their roles, citing one individual who had been a level 12 officer at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) before being appointed to a position at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). He added that traditional Christian leaders from northern Nigeria had gone directly to Buhari to raise similar concerns, arguing that they too were Christians who had voted for him but were being overlooked.
"I suspect that this excessive preference for his church members would affect Buhari," Lawal said. "From his actions and body language, I could see that he was scared that if Osinbajo became president, what Bola is doing, Osinbajo will do."
RCCG's Defence of Osinbajo Before 2023 Elections
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the RCCG described Osinbajo as someone capable of changing the narrative of governance in Nigeria. In the build-up to the 2023 general elections, the head of the Politics and Governance department of the RCCG, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan, stated: "As of today, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo is not just a pastor; he is still a child of God. There are many pastors who can decide to do rituals with a human skull and still claim to be a pastor. I am talking about a child of God."
