Ex-Governor Lamido reveals Buhari’s preference for Lawan over Tinubu as successor

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has made striking claims regarding former President Muhammadu Buhari’s preference for his successor.

In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Lamido disclosed that Buhari never wanted Bola Tinubu to succeed him, instead favoring Ahmad Lawan, the former Senate President, as his preferred candidate.

Lamido criticized Buhari’s political judgment, describing it as “naive and absurd,” particularly in wanting another northern successor after completing his own eight-year tenure.

He also suggested that Buhari did not trust his Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to take over the presidency.

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“Prior to the convention, Tinubu was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he boasted that it was his turn to rule Nigeria. And Buhari, very naive, was watching,” Lamido stated.

He further asserted that despite Buhari’s preferences, Tinubu emerged victorious at the convention, a win that Lamido attributes to Tinubu’s determination to overcome all obstacles, including the lack of support from the former president.

Lamido also expressed his belief that Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election makes him a formidable opponent in the 2027 election, highlighting Tinubu’s strong influence over the country and his ability to navigate and dismantle opposition.

“Tinubu is very daring; he is his own creation, a self-made man,” Lamido said, referencing Tinubu’s rise in Nigerian politics, from his days in Chicago to his battles with the Alliance for Democracy, Afenifere, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Lamido concluded by noting that while efforts are being made to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 election, it will be a “huge task” due to Tinubu’s established hold on the nation’s politics and economy.