Too early to distract the SGF

If he had been asked to describe himself, Babachir David Lawal, Nigeria’s current Secretary to the Government of the Federation would have answered that he was just an ordinary (Hoba) born who was looking to make Nigeria and indeed the world a greater place,  most especially with President Muhammadu Buhari presiding as the country’s Commander-in-Chief. […]

If he had been asked to describe himself, Babachir David Lawal, Nigeria’s current Secretary to the Government of the Federation would have answered that he was just an ordinary (Hoba) born who was looking to make Nigeria and indeed the world a greater place,  most especially with President Muhammadu Buhari presiding as the country’s Commander-in-Chief. But his close associates would say, ‘he is just being modest,’ because their friend, boss, colleague, course mate and neighbour is down to earth, pragmatic, truthful and God-fearing.
A man with a humble beginning, the SGF knows where the shoe pinches and exactly what to do to ease the pain. Little wonder he has dedicated his precious time to putting smiles on several faces even before joining politics in 2002. This is a man who over the years took charge of nurturing and training children of the less privileged in the society, including but not limited to his ancestral home.
A philanthropist and a humble man, Engineer Lawal understands that he couldn’t have been who is today without the express grace and favour of our Almighty Creator.
Ordinarily, I don’t have any have any reason to speak for or against traducers of Engr. Babachir David Lawal, simply I am not his spokesperson. But because I cherish his lessons of service to humanity, I feel duty bound to add my voice to his legion of supporters.
The SGF’s post on facebook with the caption “Blessed Assurance” dated 10 March, 2016, informed this write up. Quoting him copiously in his first paragraph, the SGF wrote: “since becoming Secretary to the Government of the Federation in August 2015, some groups of people have taken upon themselves the task of trying to ruin my character and reputation.
They have persistently strived to bring my work as an SGF into disrepute through sponsored anonymous publications in the social and print media. Some have chosen the route of unsigned written petitions. Others do their own slandering through gossips and rumours”.
This is the chapter that opened the SGF’s six point paragraph in reaction to the deluge of false criticisms penned down by detractors.
But as held by many communicators, facts are sacred, while comments are free. And on the foundation of facts we can only build a house occupied by truth.
Perhaps more than anything else in the life of the SGF is his consistence and doggedness. To him, it is non-negotiable. His belief in the public good comes first. At some point and time, he may have been misunderstood, but events later validated him thereby winning him more respect and acceptability.
For Babachir David Lawal, his capacity to discern people and events remain another major strength that equips him adequately to absorb effects of unintended outcomes, so much that it is safe to conclude that nothing actually takes him unawares.
Taking liberty with the constitutionally guaranteed provision of right to fair hearing and the liberal atmosphere prevailing under the present administration, some charlatans reputed for their open disdain for the sanctity of truth decided to raise the ante of falsehood. First on their card of misinformation is the alleged issue of “soliciting for bribe right, left and centre” by the SGF.
But as he rightly said on his facebook timeline this morning “all allegations of corruption are provable either as being false or true. Corruption by its very nature has no hiding place. This is because there is always a giver, a taker or a collaborator….”
It takes more than perseverance, hard work and ingenuity to attain victory in every sphere of endeavour, political office inclusive. These are some of the attributes of the SGF. He has been and is still surrounded by people of timber and caliber, people whose relationships with him date back to his moments of humble beginning.  That is why I want to use this medium to appeal to him to disregard the negative comments in the social and print media against his person. The sour grapes in such write ups should not be allowed to distract him, they should instead propel and encourage him to put in his best in serving the nation at this vantage position God has blessed him with.
Wabundani writes from Abuja, F.C.T .