Tinubu's Smoking Habits and Nigeria's Real Concerns

The reality is, whether a president smokes Silk Cut or drinks herbal tea does not matter much. What really concerns Nigerians is if Tinubu’s government is providing the “corn in the pot”, the policies that support daily living. In my view, he is failing. As the story teaches us, the sweet smells of tobacco and coffee are nice but only for a short time. It is the lasting nourishment of corn that truly feeds the community. History judges leaders not by the smoke they puff but by the food they bring to the table.

Recently, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, made headlines. He claimed that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is “an unhealthy man” who quickly goes to French hospitals. Lawal did not stop there. In an eye-catching interview, he also said Tinubu smokes like an old British car, the Morris Minor. “The only thing I know he likes much is cigarettes, Silk. He smokes. I don’t know whether he does it now. He likes that a lot. He can’t do without it,” Lawal claimed.

For many Nigerians, Lawal’s story about “Silk cigarette” was surprising. But tobacco smoking is not new to us; it has been around for over a hundred years. Our elders smoked it as a sign of maturity and status, using short clay pipes known as tábà or locally made tobacco leaves called aàsà. This practice was popular among both men and women, who pressed the leaves to their lips to enjoy the menthol smoke. With colonialism, people began to see packaged cigarettes like Gold Leaf, SM, and Benson & Hedges.

But what about a Silk cigarette? Known worldwide as Silk Cut, it is a British low-tar brand produced by the Gallaher Group, which is part of Japan Tobacco. Launched in 1964, Silk Cut became famous for being a milder option compared to regular cigarettes like Marlboro or Benson & Hedges due to its lower tar content.

Lawal’s interview painted a picture of Tinubu enjoying low-tar British tobacco. He described how Tinubu wakes up and eats breakfast, which could be banana, groundnuts, or ogi, before starting his work. This juicy story gave the Nigerian media plenty to chew on. But we should ask ourselves: What was Lawal’s real goal?

I see Babachir’s comments as a distraction, similar to Nyesom Wike’s recent talk that careless speech in Igbo means cho-cho-cho. “Do you know something? Bola is not somebody that likes to enjoy food,” Lawal added. “Bola would wake up in the morning and there is banana in his living room. He would eat banana and groundnut. That is his food. Sometimes in the morning they bring Ogi (pap) and moinmoin.” He went further to say the President looks untidy, sharing photos of him in simple pajamas, and questioned: “Why is he accused of amassing such excessive wealth? I don’t understand. He is not going to enjoy it. He doesn’t enjoy it. He doesn’t dress properly.”

Watching the interview reminded me of Ayinla Omowura, the Yoruba Apala music star, who disliked gossip. As people talked in their cho-cho-cho, Omowura’s life became fodder for local gossip. He was a man from a poor background who became wealthy and famous, buying cars just like Davido does today. In his performances, he called out gossipers, dubbing them “Baba Muka” and “Ìyá Muka.” He sang about how they spread false stories about his wealth and possessions.

Babachir Lawal should not be ignored. He needs to sit down for a serious chat. What was his aim by turning into a Baba Muka with his comments about Tinubu? My main concern is that making fun of someone’s health is disrespectful; even moral philosophers would agree. Theologians remind us that health is in God’s hands, and no one should judge another’s struggles. My only issue is when African leaders act like they are invincible to life’s problems and death.

Now, let’s talk about cigarettes. I recall an old Yoruba story about three crops: Tábà (Tobacco), Kọfí (Coffee), and Àgbàdo (Maize). Tábà was beautiful, with large leaves. It claimed its smoke brought comfort to the elders, ignoring that it stole their breath. Kọfí boasted about giving energy to farmers but admitted it made drinkers jittery. But Àgbàdo, humble Maize, reminded them that it provided the warmth of pap (èkọ), fed the village, and sustained it during tough times. The lesson is clear: quick pleasures fade, but true nourishment lasts.

What do cigarettes have to do with this? Recently, Mathias Mpuuga, former vice president of Uganda’s National Unity Platform, criticized party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, an activist and politician against President Yoweri Museveni. Mpuuga said: “Tell those interested in leadership positions to stop going to bars, getting drunk, and smoking marijuana… If you want to be a leader, you must be sober 24 hours a day.” His comments were clearly aimed at Bobi Wine.

If Lawal was thrilled to discover Tinubu's smoking habit, he should know this: At the recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, leaders of the world’s biggest economies met at a resort by Lake Geneva. Reflecting on Plato’s idea that “all men are by nature equal,” they shared light moments that showed their human sides. Their talks revealed that when world leaders meet, they also discuss personal weaknesses.

While waiting for US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni broke the ice with her need for “three coffees” to wake up. When asked by German politician Friedrich Merz if she needed a cigarette too, she replied that she had quit smoking a month ago. This led to a conversation where UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer asked European Council President António Costa when he stopped smoking, to which Costa replied he had quit 21 years ago. Casual conversations among the leaders ranged from smoking habits to Macron’s missing watch and Trump’s jersey gift.

The truth is that many world leaders have smoked cigarettes, used cannabis, or lived unusual lifestyles. Some of these stories are strange and fascinating. Former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke once won a beer-drinking contest. Former Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina was a DJ. Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King claimed to communicate with spirits. Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu, afraid of poisoning, burned his suits after wearing them once. Muammar Gaddafi reportedly had the odd habit of washing his hands in the blood of a freshly killed deer, believing it had special benefits. The world has often been led by humans.

I find myself in the same situation as Babachir Lawal. My defense is Oscar Wilde. In his works, Wilde said the best way to get rid of temptation is to give in to it. So, I also give in to cho-cho-cho. I will share my experiences with Bola Tinubu. I’ve been close to him three times, twice when he was Lagos State governor and once as APC leader. The first time was at the Marina Government House with the late columnist Gbolabo Ogunsanwo. The second was at a public event on Isaac John Street in Ikeja, where I sat next to him. The man beside me went to the bathroom, and Tinubu sat in his empty seat. He picked up the leftover Chapman drink, put the used straw in his mouth, and finished it without a care.

During that event, I watched him closely. On his left hand, I saw scars from childhood burns, what Yoruba call Iná Òjó. It was similar to how I observed Umaru Yar’Adua, then governor of Katsina State, during my first meeting with him in 2016. My last encounter with Tinubu was in his Bourdillon home with another governor present. That day confirmed Lawal’s claim: the room was filled with thick cigarette smoke as our host smoked happily, unaware of how hard it was for me to breathe.

So why should anyone care if the President smokes Silk Cut in Aso Rock? With Nigeria’s economy struggling under Tinubu’s rule, when politicians seem like robbers and societal norms are ignored, why should anyone worry about whether Tinubu smokes cigarettes or what he does at Aso Rock?

Babachir Lawal’s choice of topic is mundane. Serious thinkers should find this irritating. It includes a leader’s food choices, drinks, and companions, what Yoruba call àmón, the trivial parts of a goat after butchering. The mundane is broad. It covers a leader’s relationships, meals, drinks, and the people they associate with. But if looked at closely, the àmón can reveal deeper truths about a leader. Scholars say understanding daily routines helps us understand a leader’s politics. Small, everyday habits reflect their thoughts, which connect to policies and the lives of the people they serve.

When we study the ordinary, we should look beyond the obvious. This helps us see how our leaders wake up, eat, move, and work daily. We should also ask about their interests, as this can reveal much about them. Listening to their casual talks, jokes, and slang can also show us their true feelings and mindsets. This is why both scholars and everyday people should pay attention to trivial things when analyzing leaders; hidden power dynamics, cultural habits, and social truths about their governance can be found in these details.

While it is valid to analyze the mundane, it doesn’t change that world leaders are human. For example, two-time Ugandan President Apollo Milton Obote was addicted to his pipe; Barack Obama admitted to struggling with smoking; Nelson Mandela, when shown a photo holding a cigarette, said he was “just showing off”; Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were chain smokers in the White House; John F. Kennedy loved his cigars. In Nigeria, Shehu Shagari was a chain smoker, and Umaru Yar’Adua would walk to local shops to buy cigarettes. Today, many Nigerian leaders face accusations of various vices. When Olusegun Obasanjo, fresh from prison and entering the presidential race in 1998, invited Political Editors to his Ota farm, he offered them Remi Tinubu akara cake. After eating, he rubbed the oil on his arms and legs.

But what political gain did Babachir Lawal hope to get from his Silk Cut cigarette story?

In that interview, alleging that Tinubu was addicted to Silk cigarettes and “can’t do without them,” he linked it to questions about Tinubu’s health. What I think Lawal, known for the grass-cutting scandal, did was serve Nigerians a classic piece of Tábà.

While Babachir Lawal may be on a political ride, Nigerians should act like the wise elders in the earlier story of Kofí, Tábà, and Àgbàdo: We should ask ourselves a key question: In our worry about Tinubu’s leadership, are we focusing on the smoke or measuring the positive effects on our lives?

We must not let people like Lawal sell us junk as valuable. While he offered a distraction with political gossip, we must focus on what really matters in Nigeria. The issues we face include food security, inflation, purchasing power, safety, and infrastructure. I do not think Tinubu has done well in these areas. When former allies become critics using personal attacks instead of serious policy discussions, and when a presidency defends personal habits rather than addressing real hunger, we all face trouble.

The truth remains, whether a president smokes Silk Cut or drinks herbal tea is not the main issue. What concerns Nigerians is whether Tinubu’s government provides the “corn in the pot”, the policies that support daily living. In my view, he is not succeeding. As the story teaches, the sweet smells of tobacco and coffee are nice but only for a short time. It is the lasting nourishment of corn that truly feeds the community. History judges leaders not by the smoke they exhale but by the food they bring to the table.