Tinubu Lost His Soul After Becoming President – EX-SGF Lawal Drops Bombshell In Viral Video

• Former SGF Babachir Lawal says President Bola Tinubu was compassionate, generous and receptive to advice before becoming President but has since “lost his soul.”

• Claims Tinubu’s transformation began after relocating to Abuja in 2022, alleging he became isolated by a new political inner circle and influenced by religious hardliners.

• Reveals Tinubu allegedly secured Muhammadu Buhari’s APC presidential ticket in 2014, financed critical aspects of the 2015 presidential campaign and personally spent over ₦2 billion on foreign political consultants.

• Says he repeatedly defended Tinubu before Buhari, reminding the former President of Tinubu’s pivotal role in his electoral success whenever concerns were raised about his background.

July 25 , () — Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, has made a series of explosive claims about President Bola Tinubu’s political evolution and his role in the emergence of former President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that the Nigerian leader “lost his soul” after becoming President.

Lawal made the disclosures during an interview with Symfoni TV, excerpts of which have gone viral on social media, where he reflected on his long political relationship with Tinubu, his role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the behind-the-scenes events that culminated in Buhari’s election victory in 2015.

The former SGF described Tinubu as a compassionate, generous and visionary politician before he became President but alleged that he changed dramatically after relocating to Abuja in 2022 to pursue his presidential ambition, blaming the transformation on a new political inner circle that allegedly isolated him from long-standing associates.

‘He Was an Excellent Human Being’

Lawal said Tinubu was once known for his kindness, generosity and willingness to help people without expecting anything in return.

According to him, the former Lagos State governor was approachable, listened to advice and consistently intervened to assist people facing difficult situations.

“President Tinubu was an excellent human being before he became president. If you’re in a problem, he’ll go to whatever length to solve it. He was a good listener, took advice, and was kind,” Lawal said.

He added that Tinubu’s compassion often reminded him of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I used to liken him to Buhari because he was also very kind and sympathetic to people.”

Lawal further said Tinubu possessed a rare ability to identify potential in people and frequently offered substantial financial support to those he believed would make meaningful contributions in the future.

“He’s someone you can like. Bola has given some people a stupendous amount of money to help them out of crises without expecting anything. But the thing about Tinubu is that he has a gift. He can see in you future returns in advance. He does things like that”, he said.

‘He Was Caged in Abuja’

According to Lawal, Tinubu’s personality changed after relocating to Abuja in 2022 in preparation for the APC presidential primary.

“He was an excellent human being, but he goes on to become president, and something happened. I know the time he changed, and I told him. Around 2022, Tinubu relocated to Abuja to pursue his presidential ambition, and our people, the northerners who were his friends, surrounded him, and he was caged”, he claimed.

Lawal alleged that Tinubu’s new associates introduced him to individuals he described as religious extremists, whom he accused of influencing the President.

“They introduced him to religious bigots who claimed they knew Buhari, and that was when he started changing. I had access to him then in Abuja.”

He further claimed that Tinubu no longer appeared to be fully in charge of his administration.

“He was a good man at that time, but he has lost his soul now. He’s someone who’s in charge all the time, but he doesn’t look in charge anymore as long as he gets his own share of whatever he’s looking for. The rest they can loot however they want,” the former SGF said

Despite his criticism, Lawal said he still hoped Tinubu could return to the qualities that once defined him.

“I wish he could go back to what he was before. Nigeria will be great.”

How Tinubu Secured Buhari’s APC Ticket

Lawal also narrated what he described as Tinubu’s decisive intervention during the APC presidential primary ahead of the 2015 general election.

According to him, Buhari was initially not the favourite to secure the party’s presidential ticket, with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha commanding significant regional support.

He said Tinubu’s intervention changed the course of the contest.

“On the day of the APC convention in 2014, the North West was supporting Kwankwaso and Atiku while the South West was waiting for Tinubu’s direction. The South East was supporting Okorocha, and he was likely to win the presidential ticket based on our numbers.”

Lawal recalled that after unsuccessful attempts to persuade former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako and former Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko to support Buhari, he and other APC leaders approached Tinubu with electoral data demonstrating Buhari’s strength in northern Nigeria.

“That night, Bola didn’t sleep. He went back to Governor Nyako and Governor Wamakko and persuaded both to support Buhari. That was when we got the North West votes back for Buhari.”

He said Tinubu subsequently directed South-West delegates to support Buhari, ensuring his victory at the convention.

‘I Never Let Buhari Forget Tinubu’s Sacrifice’

The former SGF also revealed that he repeatedly defended Tinubu whenever Buhari expressed reservations about him.

According to Lawal, Buhari occasionally raised concerns about Tinubu’s background and education, but he reminded the former President that Tinubu had played an indispensable role in making his presidency possible.

“He had access to files on Tinubu, but I told him, ‘You knew all this when you asked for his support, and he gave it to us. So why bite the finger that fed us?’ Buhari agreed and changed.”

Lawal added that he remained one of the few people who fully understood Tinubu’s contributions to Buhari’s political success.

“I was one of the people who knew firsthand what Tinubu did to facilitate Buhari’s presidency, and I never let Buhari forget it.”

He also claimed that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Tinubu never enjoyed a cordial political relationship.

Claims on Buhari’s Campaign Funding

Lawal further claimed that Tinubu rescued Buhari’s presidential campaign after an initial funding arrangement with a wealthy businessman collapsed.

He alleged that he and former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva had secured financial support from the businessman during a discreet meeting aboard a yacht, but the arrangement reportedly fell through after the businessman was allegedly threatened by the administration of then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

“That was when we went to Tinubu and explained the issue to him. Through him, we raised sufficient funds to run Buhari’s campaign.”

He also alleged that Tinubu financed the separate campaign organisation of then vice-presidential candidate Yemi Osinbajo and personally hired American political consultants who had previously worked on former US President Barack Obama’s election campaigns.

“Bola also hired consultants from America who were doing professional work on Buhari’s image. They were the same people who ran Obama’s campaign, and I know that cost him over ₦2 billion.

“Whenever there was a need for expenditure, he didn’t go to the campaign purse. He spent from his own purse.”

Background

Lawal’s remarks come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election continue to gather momentum and prominent figures within the ruling APC become increasingly divided over the direction of the Tinubu administration.

A founding member of the APC and one of the architects of the opposition coalition that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, Lawal served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation under former President Buhari before leaving office in 2017. Since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, however, Lawal has become one of the administration’s most outspoken critics, repeatedly faulting its economic policies, appointments and governance style, while aligning himself with opposition efforts to build a formidable coalition ahead of the next presidential election.

The latest comments, made during a Symfoni TV interview that has since generated widespread reactions online, provide a rare insider’s account of the political manoeuvring, campaign financing and strategic alliances that preceded Buhari’s rise to power, while offering Lawal’s personal assessment of how Tinubu has changed since becoming President.

As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not publicly responded to the allegations and claims made by the former SGF.