The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, on Saturday, said some key figures in the All Progressives Congress assisted him to attain the office through their recommendation to President Muhammadu Buhari.
These individuals, according to Lawal, included the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and a former national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.
According to him, if it has been left to northerners, “it is doubtful if they will take a Christian man to make him SGF.”
Lawal said this during a thanksgiving service held in his honour at the ECWA Church in Wuse 2, Abuja.
He said, “My wife has not met Asiwaju (Tinubu); she has not met Bisi Akande; she has not met Buhari. It is important for Nigerians to know that goodness is not restricted to tribe, religion or political parties.
“My opinion is that if you have no investment in human beings and you just invest in yourself like most politicians present in this church do, you will end up as nothing. If you look at just your community for your friendship or you look at your religion or people in the same church with you for friendship, I doubt if you will go anywhere.
“I am Secretary to the Government (of the Federation) today because those people that I mentioned were the very first to put the idea in the mind of the President. They were the ones that made it possible. Because if it has been left to northerners, it is doubtful if they will take a Christian man to make Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”
The SGF said his recommendation was based on friendship.
He added, “They know that I am not ambitious.
“I will beg my friends not to also try to beg me to bend the rules to favour them, because I will not.”
The SGF assured the audience that the Buhari -led administration would do its best to right the wrongs of the past.
In his sermon, the ECWA President, Dr. Jeremiah Gado, emphasised the need for politicians across the country to work together to evolve true change in the country irrespective of sentiments.
The thanksgiving service was also attended by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun
Also at the service were Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Willy Obiano (Anambra), Solomon Lalong (Plateau), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi).
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