The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, expressed anger after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu picked Kashim Shettima as his running mate in 2023.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Wike said Lawal visited him in his Port Harcourt residence shortly after the announcement was made. According to him, Lawal was visibly upset because he had expected Tinubu to choose him as vice president.

“After President Tinubu chose Shettima as his VP, Babachir Lawal came to my house in Port Harcourt. He was angry because he thought the president would pick him as vice president,” Wike said.

The revelation comes days after Lawal, in a separate appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, claimed he would not have lasted in Tinubu’s cabinet had he been appointed.

“I thank God that I didn’t make the mistake of being in this government ab initio. If I were in this government, I probably would have been sacked a long time ago, killed or resigned,” Lawal had said.

Lawal, a strong critic of the administration, further argued that President Tinubu did not win the 2023 election, insisting that the results available to him at the time showed otherwise.

“The problem with Bola Tinubu is that he thinks I offended him. I didn’t offend him; he offended me. He is full of himself, and I believe he didn’t win the election,” Lawal said.