Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has shared a behind-the-scenes look at how he was nudged into accepting his high-profile government role by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, despite initially pushing back against the appointment.
Speaking during an interview with Trust TV, Lawal reflected on the early days of the administration, detailing a remarkably candid conversation that took place shortly after Buhari assumed office. According to him, the former president reached out directly to offer him the position of SGF, an invitation Lawal was quick to decline. He explained that he was completely unfamiliar with the bureaucratic demands of the office and simply did not want the job.
However, Buhari was persistent. Believing Lawal possessed the sharp intellect required for the position, the former president tried to talk him into reconsidering, even playfully brushing off his hesitation.
Rather than mincing words, Lawal decided to be entirely transparent about his personal ambitions at the time. He recalled telling Buhari that he had envisioned a very different path under the new government—one focused on securing lucrative government contracts or perhaps landing an oil well.
At that point, the exchange took a humorous turn. Buhari responded to the blunt admission by jokingly labeling him a “thief” before the conversation came to a close.
Recounting the exchange in his own words, Lawal shared: “Buhari called me and said, ‘What did you tell Timi about SGF?’ I said, ‘Sir, I don’t know what the work is, and I am not interested in it.’ So Buhari now said, ‘BD, if you are in that desk for two hours, you will be the best in your life ever; you are so smart, I know you since you were small, so don’t tell me that.’ I said, ‘Oga, I have already told you what I need in this government, I will be coming and picking contracts left, right and center, and maybe you will give me oil wells, who knows?’ Then he said, ‘Thief,’ and then I left.”
