SGF’s suspension, Adamawa people and Buhari’s anti corruption crusade
It’s no longer news that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal has been suspended, an exercise many people in Adamawa State have described as an act aimed at cleaning the rot in the country occasioned by corrupt leaders and as a way of using the All progressives Congress (APC) members as a standard of measurement on matters of integrity.
The feelers emanating from various stakeholders in the state suggests that Adamawa people have reaffirmed their support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption crusade, insisting that there is no amount of sacrifice that is too much to pay in ridding the nation of corrupt leaders.
While reacting, the majority of people who commented mostly appealed to the Presidential Committee investigating the issue to give the suspended SGF (Babachir) a fair hearing for equity sake, knowing his level of uprightness before becoming the SGF.
Our correspondent who went to the streets of Jimeta and Yola, to feel the pulse of stakeholders in the state found out that Adamawa stakeholders are in high spirit and believe that the embattled SGF would be given a clean bill of health by the panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate him over the grass cutting contract awarded to a company allegedly belonging to him by the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).
The Organising secretary of the ruling All progressives Congress (APC), in the State, Ahmed Lawal said the party was going through an integrity test that may affect it’s fortunes if Babachir is found guilty of corruption. This is to say that the fight against corruption is certainly is an all round affairs and is not selective to the detriment of other people or group of people.
According to him, Adamawa people welcome the development with good heart knowing full well that Babachir is coming out clean like the Crystal, urging people of the state not to read meanings to President Buhari’s action or see it as a way to get their brother out of office.
Another senior member of APC, Alhaji Uba Dan’arewa was fuming when contacted, he noted that he is not happy with the development, he revealed that there are intrigues a times being played by politicians to turn black white and white black.
According to him, in the context of Nigerian politics, it is hard for you to find a straight forward person whose level of integrity is not questionable.
“I’m not happy with the development, because our country is so corrupt to the extent that the people who are good will be blackmailed and accused of doing bad things. Our politics in Nigeria is a game and the belief in the outside world is that you must be bad, evil, you must become partner in crime and ready to commit all sort of crime against humanity and most times it is even the most unqualified that will be called upon to contest for elective positions.
“Nigeria is such a funny country that you cannot be honest, even if you are they will even label you to be a corrupt person, standing alone in the verge of honesty is like fighting armless at the midst of all kinds of combatant legion of armies who are ready to fight you to the end.
“It’s a great lost to Adamawa people, and certainly the truth shall be unravelled in no distance time, I know his relationship with President Buhari is very cordial, I know Buhari has already passed a vote of confidence on him, believe you me David will not be found wanting, his level of integrity will not make him to be indicted, and for him to be appointed as the SGF by Buhari it shows his integrity is in check. I think something else went wrong somewhere,” Uba lamented
Other stakeholders who made comments on the topical issue said that they suspects something fishy about the whole issue, noting that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN who is a member of the committee had earlier cleared him of the alleged offence based on the first directive given by President Buhari to investigate him.
Mr. Leader Leneke who is a renowned public commentator in the state wondered why after the first report cleared him, that some corrupt Nigerians realising that the SGF cannot be remote controlled, some of them within the corridors of power will decide to gang up against him in order to be having free deals of bargains at the Presidency.
“I know with all the schemed plan against Babachir, it will be hard for Adamawa State to get this kind of rare privilege. It’s on record for the first time Adamawa State produced the SGF, it is on record that for the first time that a Christian in the whole of Northern Nigeria to be called upon for this noble assignment.
I think some people are playing with our intelligence and we are losing the rare privilege,” Leneken said.
A former Christian Youths Leader, Mr David Simon views the investigative panel set up by the President to investigate the allegations against the SGF, Lawal as a way to prove that the present administration is really out to fight corruption irrespective of who is who whether in government or out of government that is indicted.
David asserted that Lawal is a noble man whose character is found to be detestable to some cabals at the Presidency, but added that he believes that what is going to be will be, but he doubt that the accused person can be found culpable of any corrupt charges.
However, the fear of many analysts in Adamawa is that if Babachir is eventually found wanting in any way, the entire North East and the Christian community in that region in particularly may not have the opportunity to produce another SGF in this dispensation.
