Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the Vatican for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, calling the trip a “non-achievement” and questioning its relevance to Nigeria’s national interests.
The president attended the inauguration Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, on May 18, 2025, alongside other global leaders. The visit marked Tinubu’s participation in a significant international religious event.
However, Lawal used the occasion to once again voice his opposition to the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election, which saw both the president and vice president hailing from the same religious background.
He reiterated his stance that the ticket was a“direct attack” on Nigeria’s Christian community and a divisive move in a multi-religious country.
His remarks have reignited the conversation around religious inclusion and representation in Nigerian politics, a topic that continues to spark debate in both political and religious circles.
