Mixed reactions trail SGF, Babachir’s suspension in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The suspension of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Engineer David Lawal Babachir by the presidency to pave way for proper and independent investigation in to allegations of misdeed in handling some contracts involving the Presidential Intiative on North East,PINE has been trailed with mix reactions in Adamawa state.
Respondents interviewed by our correspondent expressed confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari's administration efforts in trying hard to situate things in a cogent manner in the interest of all Nigerians and the country at large.
Some described the suspension as a welcome development which after the thorough investigation will put the matter at rest once and for all while sees it as a political gimmick aim at settling scores.
Former chairman of defunct Congress for Progressives Change, CPC and a former lawmaker at the Adamawa state House of Assembly, Honourable Ibrahim Bappah Waziri said it was a normal government activity in situations like this,to ask those in question to step aside for proper auditing.
Waziri expressed confidence that the findings will address the matter squarely stressing that even at the initial stage when the senate brought the allegations,President demanded that fair hearing should be accorded to the accused to depend himself properly.
He opined that President Buhari is a personality that always want to do things right as provided by the laws of the land and that is what we are witnessing presently in this case.
"Honestly no cause for alarm because Buhari always try to do things right as provided by laws of the land and the moment the facts are brought forward all Nigerians would be satisfied.so is not surprising at all," Waziri maintained.
One of his kinsmen and school mate , Pella Zubaima ,said it is Normal procedure for government to investigate any allegations against anybody holding political position.
He said his removal is to gave way for proper investigation to take place, so that he cannot influence the outcome of the investigation.
Zubaima said by law it is not wrong to remove him pending the outcome of the investigation.
" I fill not happy when. the news was broken to me,because he is my brother. Am optimistic he would not be found guilty at the end of it all.
" We schooled together from 1976 to 78 in ABU Zaria ,I believe,the outcome of the investigation would be in his favor.
"Although there are some people in the president Buhari's government,that are not too good,I belief some people are helping themselves in the matter".Zubaima explained.
Haruna Isa who hails from the same village Kwambala with the embattled SGF,noted that he was disturbed when he had the news.
B.D Lawal would have adhered to due process in the awards of the contracts, an example was set in Adamawa with the former governor Balla Nggilari's case.
" I call on the investigative panel to ensure justice during their investigation, "I think this would serve as lesson to others in line with anti corruption crusade of president Buhari," Isa added.
Abdulraham Abubakar Musa, a PDP chieftain in the state thanked God for the suspension of the SGF.
"The reason for me, thanking God, is that virtually all people from the North-East region are of the believe that President Buhari is not a corrupt president, so also is his cabinet members.
"Many people believe that that his cabinet members would not involve in corrupt practices ,but this development has changed the mind set of people in the region, as they are desperately waiting to see what action would be taken against him (SGF) if found guilty to serve as deterrent to others.
"By this,Mr president's anti corruption crusade is yielding positive results with the suspension of SGF.
"We are very happy because we want everyone to be transparent in present dispensation,while calling on government to make public the outcome of the investigation ".
Linus Makama,from Hong local government area, further said that there is something wrong somewhere else with the members of the Presidential Initiative on the North-East.
"Is only the outcome of the investigation that would determine the faith of Babachir Lawal.
"I know him from childhood days,he is incorruptible person,and straight forward person ".
B.D Lawal was last seen in the state during visits of Vice President Yemo Osinbanjo to the state,where a number of roads projects were commissioned in the state.