Babachir Lawal accuses Atiku of ethnic jingoism over Adamawa ADC governorship ticket

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of ethnic and religious jingoism over the choice of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate for Adamawa State ahead of the 2027 elections.

Lawal alleged that Atiku influenced the substitution of Engr Umar Suleiman, who won the ADC governorship primary, with Tukur Moddibo, whom he described as Atiku’s kinsman.

In the latest instalment of his “Kachalla Series” on Sunday, Lawal said the development had validated his earlier concerns about the former vice-president’s political agenda.

He said Suleiman, a Kilba Muslim from Hong Local Government Area, won the ADC primary “in a landslide”, but was replaced by Moddibo, a Fulani Muslim from Fufore Local Government Area.

“Contrary to common sense, equity, and justice, the ADC’s national leadership has succumbed to uncommon pressure from this Kachalla and some of his ilk and replaced Engr Umar Suleiman with Tukur Moddibo,” Lawal said.

The former SGF described Atiku as an “ethnic jingoist” and alleged that his political conduct in Adamawa demonstrated a preference for people based on their ethnic and religious identity.

“For those who were initially skeptical of my earlier characterization of the danger that a possible Atiku presidency would pose to us non-Fulani, non-Muslims, especially those from Northern Nigeria, the validation is now out in the open,” he said.

Lawal alleged that Atiku’s political patronage was largely restricted to Muslims and members of the Fulani ethnic group.

“It is often alleged that to him, for you to enjoy any form of patronage from or through him, it is not only that you must be a Muslim, but you must also be of the Fulani ethnic lineage,” he said.