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Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of showing no real commitment to addressing Nigeria’s worsening security situation. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, he claimed that previous governments, including those of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, performed better in ensuring national security and fairness. Lawal, who served as SGF under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, said the Tinubu-led government has failed to demonstrate interest in tackling insecurity compared to past administrations. “Past governments were better, more accommodating,” Lawal said. “They served Nigerians better in the sense of equity, intention to fight corruption, and being fair and just. Even in the sense of insecurity, Goodluck Jonathan fought insecurity. Buhari took over and did; this government is not interested in that,” he added. ALSO READ: Insecurity: Bandits, terrorists better armed than Nigerian soldiers — Babachir Lawal The former SGF argued that before Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, Adamawa State — his home state in the North-East — was relatively peaceful. However, he said the security situation has deteriorated two years into the current administration. Lawal also criticised the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, saying he had not seen any tangible efforts from his office to curb the killings and rising threats across the country. “I don’t see what work he [Ribadu] is doing. If I see what work he is doing, I will tell you. “If I see results of what they are doing, I will say it. It won’t hurt me. “I know soldiers are out there, some are losing their lives, quite a lot of them are from my community who have come back dead. I know them. “Why are they losing their lives? Because the system that ought to support them has failed. “When you send the soldier into the battle with an old, antiquated rifle that can only hold 20 ammunition and is facing an enemy that has one kilometre of bullets, you shoot one, it jams,” he said. When asked why he did not address the problem while in office, Lawal defended the Buhari administration, saying it made better provisions for security forces. “Our time was better, better arms were procured. We had this advantage that our own was a soldier. “Our Head of State understood the issues and he did well. Maybe he [Tinubu] is not interested,” Lawal added. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
