I Told Buhari What I Needed From His Govt Was Contracts Or Oil Well And He Called Me “Thief” – Lawal

In an interview with Trust TV, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him to the position of SGF despite his initial reluctance to accept the role.

Lawal said that shortly after Buhari assumed office as President, the former leader approached him and asked whether he would be interested in becoming Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

According to Lawal, he told Buhari that he was not interested in the position because he did not understand what the responsibilities of the SGF entailed.

He said he made it clear that the office was not something he had been seeking or considering for himself.

However, Lawal said Buhari insisted that he was suitable for the position and expressed confidence in his ability to perform the duties.

According to him, Buhari argued that he was intelligent enough to understand the responsibilities of the office quickly and reminded him that he had known him from a young age.

Lawal recalled that he still tried to steer the conversation away from the SGF position, telling Buhari that he had other expectations from the new administration.

In a humorous remark, he said he told the former president that he expected to benefit from government contracts and possibly even an oil well.

“Buhari called me and said ‘What did you tell Timi about SGF?’ I said Sir I don’t know what the work is and I am not interested in it,” Lawal recalled.

He said Buhari then tried to convince him that he was the right person for the position, telling him that he would quickly excel if given the opportunity.

“So Buhari now said ‘BD if you are in that desk for two hours you will be the best in your life ever, you are so smart I know you since you were small so don’t tell me that’,” he said.

Lawal said he responded by reminding Buhari of what he wanted from the administration, joking that he would prefer to secure government contracts and perhaps an oil well.

“I said ‘Oga, I have already told you what I need in this government, I will be coming and picking contracts left, right and center and maybe you will give me oil wells who knows’,” he recalled.

According to Lawal, Buhari responded humorously by calling him a “thief” before the conversation ended.

“Then he said ‘Thief’ and then I left,” Lawal said.

Despite his initial refusal and lack of interest in the position, Lawal was eventually appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation by Buhari, becoming one of the key officials in the administration.

COURTESY: Gnewss