In a sharply critical statement, Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent meeting with Pope Leo XIV, calling it an insult to Christianity. Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Babachir questioned the significance of the President’s attendance at the Pope’s historic inauguration in Vatican City, describing it as a mere product of effective lobbying rather than a genuine diplomatic achievement.
President Tinubu was among global dignitaries who gathered in Rome for the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV. The event marked a significant moment in the Roman Catholic Church’s history, drawing attention from world leaders and religious followers alike. Following the ceremony, Tinubu participated in a customary handshake and exchange of pleasantries with the Pope.
However, Babachir downplayed the importance of this encounter. “Going to see the Pope is just a matter of your lobby. How well you can lobby, how many friends you have out there in the Vatican that can lobby for you,” he said. “It is not as if it’s a major achievement to visit the Pope on his inauguration. It can be arranged in advance by lobbyists, probably with the correct inducement. So, Bola Tinubu going to visit the Pope is a non-issue.”
The former SGF did not stop there. He reiterated his longstanding critique of Nigeria’s “Muslim-Muslim ticket,” which he views as a slight against Christian Nigerians. Babachir insisted that it was inappropriate for a Muslim president without a Christian vice president to lead a delegation of prominent Christians to meet the Pope. He asserted that the presence of a Christian vice president would have meant the Christian official representing Nigeria at the Vatican, not President Tinubu.
“It reinforces my earlier belief that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is an insult to Christianity,” Babachir stated. “Had there been a senior Christian as vice president, it would have been expected that he represents the government. But now in Nigeria, we have a so-called Muslim visiting the Pope, leading a delegation of eminent Catholics to the Vatican. So, it proves the fact that a Muslim-Muslim ticket is an unfair arrangement.”
This controversy has rekindled the debate surrounding the 2023 Nigerian presidential election ticket, where Tinubu selected Kashim Shettima, a fellow Muslim, as his running mate. Babachir initially supported Tinubu’s candidacy but withdrew his support following the Muslim-Muslim ticket announcement.
Babachir’s remarks add fuel to ongoing religious and political discussions in Nigeria, where the balance of religious representation in government remains a sensitive issue. His statement highlights the tensions between the country’s predominantly Muslim north and Christian south, and the expectations for political inclusiveness in Nigeria’s diverse society.
Political analysts say that this incident could deepen the divide and calls for greater religious sensitivity in Nigeria’s political leadership.
As Nigeria continues to navigate its complex religious and ethnic landscape, events like Tinubu’s Vatican visit underscore the challenges of balancing national unity with the expectations of diverse religious communities.