Gladness Gideon
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has openly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the Vatican for the papal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, calling it an affront to the Christian faith in Nigeria.
Lawal, a prominent Christian political figure, made the remarks during a live interview on Arise Television on Wednesday. He dismissed the significance of the President’s participation in the high-profile event, claiming that such invitations can be easily secured through lobbying and are not necessarily indicators of diplomatic or religious accomplishments.
“You know that going to see the Pope is just a matter of lobbying. It’s not as if it’s a major achievement. With the right connections and inducements, anyone can secure such an invitation,” Lawal said. “So, Bola Tinubu visiting the Pope is a non-issue.”
President Tinubu recently attended the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican City, joining other world leaders in a symbolic gesture of diplomacy and religious respect. He was seen exchanging pleasantries with the newly inaugurated Pope, an image that was widely circulated and praised in political and religious circles.
However, Lawal, who previously supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaign before withdrawing his backing due to the Muslim-Muslim ticket, said the Vatican visit highlights what he sees as a fundamental flaw in the current administration’s representation of Nigeria’s religious diversity.
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“This visit reinforces my earlier belief that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is an insult to Christianity,” he stated. “If Tinubu had chosen a Christian as his vice president, that person would have been the rightful delegate to lead a Christian delegation to the Pope.”
He argued that the President’s participation in such a high-level religious event—while leading a government criticized for its lack of Christian representation at the top—symbolizes an imbalance that continues to cause discontent among Christian communities.
Lawal insisted that had a Christian occupied the vice-presidential seat, protocol and sensitivity would have warranted that the Christian deputy represent the country at a Vatican event. “Instead, we have a Muslim leading a group of eminent Catholics to the Pope, which to many of us, is deeply inappropriate.”
Babachir Lawal’s remarks reignite conversations around Nigeria’s delicate religious and political balance, a topic that has continued to stir debate since the formation of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. His comments are expected to further fuel discussions around religious representation in governance, particularly as the administration continues to engage with global religious institutions.