‘You Lack Credibility’ – Sunny-Goli Hits Back at Lawal

To criticize President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Rome, Babachir Lawal lacked credibility, according to Israel Sunny-Goli, a former member of the House of Representatives.
Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, reportedly called Tinubu’s trip to the Vatican for Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration last Sunday an affront to Nigerian Christians.
According to the former SGF, Nigeria’s mission to the Vatican should have been led by a Christian vice president rather than a Muslim.

He went on to say that Tinubu’s trip to the Vatican confirmed that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was a slight to the Christian community in Nigeria.

Lawal had no moral authority to criticize the President, Sunny-Goli said in a statement on Friday.
Tinubu’s visit to the Vatican, according to the lawmaker who represented the Brass/Nembe constituency in the House, demonstrated religious peace in the nation.

Lawal attacked the President in an attempt to resurrect his waning political significance, he noted.

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“Tinubu’s administration continues to prioritize unity, tolerance, and coexistence, reaffirming the imperative of a harmonious Nigeria,” he said in his statement.

Nothing better demonstrates his commitment to religious tolerance than his meeting with Pope Leo XIV during the investiture of the Holy Father at the Vatican.

The fact that Mr. Babachir Lawal has opted to present himself as a moral authority rather than considering his term and previous controversies is disappointing.

His prior termination as SGF as a result of the notorious grass-cutting contract scam is a well-recorded incident that calls into doubt his ability to fairly judge others.

Moreover, his demonstration of religious intolerance in an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, illustrates his lack of moral authority to criticize the president’s conduct.

In his constituency in particular, his political impact is still very small. This must explain his desperate search for political significance, which he pursues like a man drowning and clinging to anything that will save him.

“Nigeria must maintain unity and respect for one another at this pivotal moment. President Tinubu is steadfast in his commitment to inclusivity, and his vision of a peaceful and forward-thinking country will not be undermined by any amount of improper criticism.