Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the Vatican, describing it as an affront to Nigeria’s Christian community. Lawal argued that the President’s attendance at the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome does not qualify as an achievement, but rather amplifies the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
In an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday, Lawal suggested that Tinubu’s presence at the Vatican was likely arranged through lobbying efforts aimed at polishing his public image.
President Tinubu had attended the papal inauguration last week following an official invitation from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
Dismissing the significance of the visit, Lawal stated, “Visiting the Pope is not a major achievement. It’s often the result of successful lobbying—how many connections you have in the Vatican and possibly what inducements are offered. It’s a non-issue.”
He went on to argue that a Muslim president leading a delegation of Christian dignitaries to a papal event only deepens the perceived disregard for Nigeria’s Christian population.
“This reinforces the insult of the Muslim-Muslim ticket. If Tinubu had chosen a Christian as his vice president, he likely wouldn’t have made that trip,” Lawal claimed.
On a broader political note, Lawal also addressed opposition coalition talks, stating that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being excluded due to what he called its “incurable virus”—implying internal dysfunction and loss of credibility.