The glittering anti-corruption image of Nigeria’s President-elect, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), was splashed with mud today after a photograph of him in the company of a rogue banker came to public attention.

The photo, published by the authoritative Guardian newspaper, shows Buhari, who defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 ballot mainly on account of his vow to decisively tackle corruption, having fun with disgraced banker Jimi Lawal of defunct Alpha Merchant Bank infamy. With them in the photo are Buhari’s one-time running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and Kaduna State Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who, like Buhari, is of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The photo has the following caption: “Pastor Tunde Bakare (right); President-elect, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); Kaduna State Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and an associate, Mr. Jimmy Lawal, during Bakare’s visit to Kaduna State...yesterday.”

Buhari came under heavy fire for keeping bad company after poet and journalist Uzor Maxim Uzoatu posted it online. Jimi Lawal is said to be a very close friend and business associate of El-Rufai back to El-Rufai’s days as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Below are some of the comments by horrified Nigerians:

Frank Ofili: Was it not the same Jimi Lawal under whose watch Alpha Merchant Bank went under on account of sharp practices?

Kuchat Ike Ofor: The carcass has fallen, the vultures are now hovering!

Ken Tadaferua: The same Jimi Lawal is back. At the very top. Hmmmmm!!!!

Tunde Akanni: Same Jimi Lawal? Haba!

Iyoha Ebosetale: Harrison Jimi Lawal is a crook. GMB should stay clear from such guys.

Chidi Nobis-elendu: Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are; or, can we say that birds of the same plumage flock......... yes, together, I remember.

•Photo, courtesy of The Guardian, shows Pastor Tunde Bakare (right); President-elect, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); Kaduna State Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and an associate, Mr. Jimmy Lawal, during Bakare’s visit to Kaduna State...yesterday.

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