By Peace Udugba
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, has said Nigerians are experiencing worsening hardship and insecurity under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, insisting that governance must be assessed strictly by results rather than political loyalty, ethnicity, or sentiment.
He made the remarks during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, where he spoke extensively on governance performance, national security, and the 2027 general elections.
Lawal said the realities in the country show that citizens across all regions are struggling, arguing that leadership should be held accountable for outcomes rather than defended on identity grounds. He maintained that governance must reflect improvements in people’s daily lives, not just statements of intent or acknowledgment of problems.
According to him:
“Bola has not been able to give us good governance. Even Nigerians believe that, except for you Yoruba who say, even if he’s killing everybody, as long as he’s a Yoruba man, he’s okay with us. Yoruba people have that mindset. He’s our son.
He can do no wrong. Even if he’s doing wrong, we look the other way now. Even if there’s no other person alive, people still defend him.
But I am not that kind of person. I judge governance by results, not by tribe or sentiment. Nigerians are suffering everywhere, whether in the North, South, East or West, and government must be held accountable for that suffering.
He further said insecurity remains one of the clearest indicators of governance failure, noting that repeated attacks on rural communities show citizens are not adequately protected.
“Insecurity is still one of the most urgent challenges. You cannot build a country where people are being killed in their villages and life continues as normal. Government cannot just keep acknowledging problems without solving them.”
He added that rural communities remain the most exposed to violence and neglect, citing incidents of attacks and loss of lives in several areas.
“When people are killed in villages, houses are burned, churches are destroyed, and nothing meaningful happens afterward, it creates a sense that life is cheap. That is not how a government should operate.”
Lawal also criticised what he described as overreliance on official statements without corresponding results, insisting that citizens are no longer interested in explanations but in solutions.
“People are tired of hearing that government is aware of insecurity or economic hardship. Awareness is not the issue. Action is what matters. Nigerians want to see results, not statements.”
He maintained that political criticism of his position is not driven by partisanship or ethnicity, adding that Nigerians should be free to assess leadership based on performance.
“My criticism has nothing to do with political alignment. Nigerians must be free to assess leadership based on performance. That is how democracy should work.”
Lawal stressed that accountability must continue beyond elections.
“Democracy does not end on election day. Leaders must remain accountable all the time. That is the only way governance improves.”
He further argued that rural communities bear the greatest burden of insecurity and economic hardship, saying government presence is often weakest in those areas.
“The people suffering the most are in rural communities. They are the ones being attacked, displaced, and forgotten. Government must do more to reach them.”
He insisted that security is fundamental to national progress.
“If you cannot protect lives, then nothing else matters. Security is the foundation of everything.”
2027 ELECTIONS: “NIGERIANS MUST LOOK FOR THE RIGHT PERSON TO DEFEAT TINUBU” — EX-SGF
Lawal also urged Nigerians to approach the 2027 general elections with greater emphasis on competence and capacity rather than emotion, ethnicity, or popularity.
He said defeating an incumbent is not enough if the alternative cannot deliver better governance.
“Nigerians must look for the right person that can defeat Bola Tinubu. But defeating an incumbent is not enough. If we remove him and bring in someone worse, it will not help the country.”
He added that leadership selection should be based on measurable performance.
“The issue is not just about removing anybody. It is about making sure that whoever comes in is better, more competent, and capable of delivering results Nigerians can feel.”
Lawal called for a shift from identity-based politics to issue-based evaluation of candidates.
“Leadership should not be based on emotion or tribe. It should be based on what people can do and what they have done before.”
He further stressed civic responsibility and the power of the ballot.
“If you are not satisfied, you have the power to change leadership through your vote. That is democracy.”
He concluded that the 2027 elections offer Nigerians another opportunity to make informed decisions about the country’s future.
“We still have time. Nigerians must think carefully. The future depends on the choices we make.”
