Time To Act Mr. President

David Babachir Lawal

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria yesterday 14th December, adopted the interim report of its adhoc committee, headed by Shehu Sani, which investigated the humanitarian crisis in the North East caused by hunger, disease, squalor, deprivation and want amongst the internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs). The report accused the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal of complicity in an alleged misappropriation of funds donated to the IDPs in the North East.

Among other things, the interim report specifically indicated that “Contracts were awarded to companies belonging to top government officials’ cronies, family members and close associates. For example, Rholavision Engineering Limited incorporated in 1990 with RC No. 159855 at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja to carry out information and communication technology services, anchored by Babachir Lawal, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation was awarded consultancy contract for the removal of the invasive plant species in Yobe State on 8th March, 2016. Although, Babachir resigned the directorship of the said company in September 2016, it is on record that he is still the signatory to accounts of the company…..”

Based on this report, the lawmakers asked the SGF to immediately resign his office and face prosecution for alleged abuse of office and inflation of contracts.

The SGF has reacted to the Senate’s call for his resignation. Although he confirmed ownership of Rholavision Engineering Limited, he said he resigned his position in the company since 18th August 2015 which was before his appointment as SGF. He further said that he was never invited by the Senate adhoc committee to hear his own side of the story. He concluded that the Senate’s call for his resignation was in bad faith as it was done to malign him.

While we may never know who, between the Senate and Babachir Lawal, is telling the truth, one tragic mistake President Buhari would make, and which will cost him the support of some of his die-hard supporters like myself, is to allow corruption to fester under his watch. The President made a promise to Nigerians to curb corruption in governance. It was on the plank of this promise that he was elected President in the first place. So, it is depressing to hear this kind of allegation being made about the men working directly with him. These allegation have been in the news for some time now, and the President has not exactly done anything about them by way of an investigation.

Now that no less a body than the Senate of the Federal Republic has indicted the SGF (a close confidant of Mr. President by the way) I opine that Mr. President must now act. He must now at least order an investigation.  We know the Senate itself is not exactly a house of saints but even in that rogue house there are some men of honour, and if such men of honour add their voice to make a bold statement about the SGF, the President should listen. Mr. President must not make the mistake of assuming that the men around him are as sincere as he himself is. The sleaze we were told took place under President Jonathan was not all committed by the former President. They were committed by the men around him; the men he trusted.

So President Buhari must not make the mistake of assuming that his own men are all clean. He must look into the Senate allegation. He must ask Babachir Lawal to step aside while investigation into the allegation is conducted. Now is the time to reassure Nigerians of his sincerity in the war against corruption. 

This is as I see it.