I Joined Politics To Making Buhari President-Babachir

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, says the major reason he joined politics was to make his contributions in ensuring President Muhammadu Buhari wins the election in 2015.

He revealed this during his appearance on the latest edition of Hard Copy, a Channels Television program which aired on Friday.

Babachir  Lawal also maintained that the allegations of corruption levelled against him are all false and as such, would not affect his relationship with the President.

Responding to a question about whether he has let President Buhari down, he said, ”no; because I feel it’s a lie. I still see the President. If I have anything to discuss, I do; he’s a politician, I’m a politician.

“I joined politics to contribute to making President Muhammadu Buhari the president. That’s the only reason I joined politics and this will not be an issue between us,” he added.

The former SGF noted further that he was happy with the investigations launched into the matter by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He insisted that he is innocent of the accusations, stressing that his relationship with the President cannot break “because of a false accusation against an innocent man.”

Mr Lawal has been under investigation for allegedly violating the due process in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

This led to his suspension by President Buhari in April 2017.

The President also suspended the former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, for his alleged connection with the funds recovered by the anti-graft agency in Ikoyi area of Lagos.

He had consequently set up a three-man panel led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to investigate the allegations of corruption against both men.

Upon considering the report of the panel, President Buhari sacked the former SFG and the former NIA DG in October 2017 and appointed Mr Boss Mustapha to replace Lawal.