Tinubu, Buhari First to Alert US on Christian Genocide in Nigeria — Former SGF Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were among the first Nigerians to brief the United States government on the alleged killings of Christians during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Lawal made the disclosure while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday. According to him, a delegation, which included Tinubu, Buhari, and Rotimi Amaechi, reportedly lobbied the US administration, raising global awareness about the security situation in Nigeria.

“Trump might be right, might not be right, but don’t forget, there was a delegation that first went to the United States to tell Obama then that Christians were being slaughtered in Nigeria. It included this man. Which man? The president (Tinubu). That APC delegation. I saw the picture. Buhari was there. Amaechi was there. I think he was the one even sitting close to the president where they went to lobby the Americans that the Goodluck government was carrying out genocide in Nigeria,” Lawal stated.

Irony of Denying Insecurity Under Current Government

Lawal criticized the current administration for denying ongoing security challenges despite previously raising alarm about similar issues under Jonathan’s government.

“So these are the issues that beat your mind. They go there themselves and say it does happen. They come back and when we say it happened, they say, no, it doesn’t happen anymore because we are in government,” he said.

He emphasized that Nigerians are less concerned with political arguments and more focused on personal safety and protection of property.

“Forget about whether there’s genocide or not in Nigeria. The issue is that. Guarantee our security of life and our property. That is it. That’s all we want from government,” Lawal added.

Call for Government to Focus on Security

A vocal critic of the current administration, Lawal urged the government to prioritize tangible security measures rather than defending its record in the media. He stressed that citizens expect protection from violence and insecurity, which should be the primary focus of any responsible government.

Lawal’s revelations have reignited discussions on the Nigerian government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of all citizens, particularly in regions plagued by violent attacks and communal tensions.