“I’ve Experienced Discrimination Due To Ethnic Groups I Belong” – Babachir Lawal

 

By Ayodele Oni

●Endorses Hayatu-Deen as the most qualified Presidential material of all aspirants. “By all standards, the Nigeria that we want to bequeat to another leader today, of the three, no one comes close to Hayatu-Deen”

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), and ex-North East Vice Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Babachir Lawal, has revealed that there exists two categories of Nigerians.

Speaking during a national television interview, Lawal went further to classify them as categories one and two.

“There are two categories of people. There are category one and category two. You and I are in category two.

“Those in category one think that they are entitled to having whatever they want at the time they want in the manner they want because they are in category one.”

The former SGF linked his position to what he described as years of discrimination experienced as a Christian from the Kilba ethnic group in Adamawa State.

“All my life, I’ve grown up facing discriminations, having to work more than any other person to prove my competence.

“I’ve had to work more than double to show somebody that I’m competent for the position I’m occupying,” he explained.

According to him, such experiences shaped his views on identity politics in Northern Nigeria.

Lawal also defended his earlier praise for defeated presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, describing him as the most qualified among the contenders.

“By all standards, the Nigeria that we want to bequeath to another leader today, of the three, no one comes close to Hayatu-Deen.

“A world-renowned economist, somebody who has distinguished himself in the corporate world, a man that is coming into politics with no baggage at all,” he said.

He argued that if northern politicians were seeking to reclaim the presidency, competence should be the overriding consideration.

“If we are going to do that as northerners, we should as well then do it with a competent person.”