Former SGF Babachir Lawal has warned the Federal Government that arresting Peter Obi over alleged protest sponsorship will have dire consequences. Lawal urges peaceful measures and criticizes Bayo Onanuga for inflaming tensions.
In a stern warning to the Federal Government, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal has cautioned against any attempt to arrest Peter Gregory Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP). Lawal, a staunch supporter of Obi during the 2023 presidential election, emphasized that such an arrest would have severe consequences that the government might not be able to handle.
Addressing the media, Lawal refuted allegations made by President Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, that the planned nationwide protests, tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, were being sponsored by Obi and the Obidient Movement. Lawal warned against using force to suppress the protests, asserting that it could serve as a “catalyst for chaos.”
“Bola Tinubu should not use a forceful approach with the protesters. They mean well for the country. If they go out to protest and there is an attempt to forcefully stop them, that will be the catalyst for chaos,” Lawal stated.
Babachir Lawal also called for the removal of Onanuga from his position, accusing him of inflaming tensions rather than calming them. “Tinubu should remove Bayo Onanuga from his position because he doesn’t mean well for his government. His outbursts are inflaming Nigerians rather than pacifying them. When you are in government, you don’t insult the people,” he added.
Lawal criticized Onanuga’s accusations against Obi, suggesting that they were baseless and inflammatory. “I don’t expect a presidential spokesman to come out and say the planned protest is being organized by Peter Obi. If Obi had the character that Onanuga is ascribing to him, this government would have been down a long time ago,” he remarked.
Babachir Lawal further warned that any move to arrest Obi would backfire, stating, “Let them arrest him if that is their plan and see the consequences. I know that is what Onanuga is working towards. Anyone asking Tinubu to arrest Peter Obi doesn’t mean well for him. It is like they took cyanide with their own hands and swallowed it.”
Lawal also addressed Onanuga’s alleged bias against Igbos, highlighting the positive relationships and contributions of the Igbo community in Nigeria. “I really don’t know what Onanuga’s problem with Igbos is. Igbos are good people. They are our classmates from primary, secondary schools to university. They are our business partners; they are our neighbors,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Lawal urged President Tinubu to be cautious and not be swayed by sycophants like Onanuga. “Tinubu is a good man, but he is surrounded by sycophants like Onanuga who will not tell him the truth,” Babachir Lawal concluded.
This development comes as Nigeria braces for a planned national protest on August 1, 2024, amid rising economic hardships and calls for better governance.
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