Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a kind and compassionate person who listened to advice and went to great lengths to help people before he became Nigeria’s president.

Lawal, while reflecting on his relationship with the president, described Tinubu as an “excellent human being” who was always willing to assist people facing difficulties. According to him, Tinubu was a good listener, receptive to advice and sympathetic to the plight of others.

The former SGF said he once likened Tinubu’s character to that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he also described as a kind and sympathetic person.

However, Lawal claimed that Tinubu’s personality and approach changed after he assumed the presidency. He said something happened to the president after he became head of state, leading to a significant change in the person he previously knew.

Lawal said he was aware of the period when Tinubu began to change and claimed that he personally told the president about it. According to him, the change became noticeable around 2022, when Tinubu relocated to Abuja as part of his efforts to pursue his presidential ambition.

He further alleged that, during that period, Tinubu became surrounded by some of his northern associates and friends, who, in his words, “caged him.” Lawal suggested that the people around the president had influenced his accessibility and decision-making, contrasting the situation with the Tinubu he knew before his presidency.

The comments by Lawal have added to the ongoing public debate about President Tinubu’s leadership style and the influence of those around him. His remarks, however, represent his personal assessment of the president’s transformation before and after assuming office.