The Secretary to the Government of the Federation Engr. Babachir Lawal has set in motion the campaigns for the 2019 general elections and has declared the Presidential results already, effectively assuming the position of the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission. If you are confused, hear him “I assure you that by the grace of God, in the next one year, Nigeria will have a booming economy. The foundation being laid by the government is solid. And nobody, even after the president has finished his eight years, can ever take us back to the pre-2015 days." The new "INEC Chief” made this remarkable statement while addressing some pro-Buhari protesters at the Unity Fountain on the 14th of February 2017 under the aegis of the Citizens Group for Good Governance. What an ironic name! I hope they are enjoying the manifestation of good governance being served by the Buhari regime, most especially the 5000 naira bag of rice and 65 naira litre petrol. Hallelujah somebody!

Our SGF is so concerned about 2019 that he leaves his seat and numerous files awaiting his attention on his table at the Federal Secretariat to address those that might have been paid by him. This is a government that suppressed the 2face coordinated protest but has time for the Pro-Buhari protesters. The Bring Back Our Girls group which has embarked on a prolonged sit-out at the Unity Fountain has not had as much as a whiff of attention from Babachir. Rather, they've been harassed by the Army, the Police and the DSS.

But are we to blame Babachir? No. Babachir is not to blame but the man at the helm of affairs in Nigeria. The disposition of the Buhari government to impunity and corruption has emboldened the likes of Babachir Lawal to be so courageous as to kick start the campaigns for 2019 elections. Someone who should rather be at home, deposed from high office or facing prosecution for corruption. Lest we forget, this was the same person indicted by a Senate Committee on the mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East in its interim report. His company Rholavision Engineering Limited was awarded a contract worth the sum of Two Hundred and Twenty -Three Million Naira for the removal of the invasive plants species Komadagu from the Yobe water channels.

Apart from its over inflated price, Babachir Lawal was the Director of the company as at March 2016 when said contract was awarded, an action that contravenes the Public Procurement Act 2007 which bars Government officials, cronies, family members and close associates from benefiting from contracts awarded by the Government but as we all know this is a government of "Change" all these were violated by the SGF and he was asked to be removed from office by the Senate. Rather than accept the Senate’s recommendation, the President, who also doubles as the "Clearer in Chief", cleared him of wrong doings and accused the Senate of not giving him a fair hearing – an accusation that has been countered by Senator Sheu Sanni.

The action of the SGF is not only distasteful but shameful at the same time. Nigerians are passing through hard times under the Buhari led Government, standard of living has not improved and prices of commodities have shot up over 100%. What we should be hearing from the government are measures that have been put in place to alleviate the hardship and suffering. The Recession that was predicted to end by December 2016 by the Honourable Minister of Budget Senator Udo Udoma is still gaining strength, we are still haunted by insecurity and the last thing that should be heard in our polity are the drum beats of electioneering.

The President is sick at the moment and on his third medical vacation in two years; it's wicked for anyone to wish him beyond 2019 in office with his frail health. He deserves enough rest after 2019 as the statesman that he is, not the hassles of public office. But the likes of Babachir Lawal would want him to remain in power as long his interests are being protected.

It’s high time we called on the self-appointed "INEC chairman” to face governance and stop heating up the polity unnecessarily!


Adesina Tosin Nathaniel is a Forward Looking Nigerian Youth
For more of his writings visit www.donteewrites..com
Tweets @Donteewrites
Facebook Page-@Donteewrites
Instagram- @Donteewrites

When they told me in 2015 that Buhari was coming to fight corruption, I laughed till I fell into a deep bowl of amala

How can a man who slammed Ekwueme (vp) with 300 years jail term and allowed his brother Shagari (president) walk away free fight corruption?

How can a man who claimed Abacha was not corrupt fight corruption?

How can someone who supervised the PTF hauling of money into abacha pockets pose as anti corrupt?

Buhari was introduced just to dismantle the government of Jonathan because the SW thought that the SE are becoming too powerful. They supported the unelectable buhari just because their selfish interest.

vanbonattel:
When they told me in 2015 that Buhari was coming to fight corruption, I laughed till I fell into a deep bowl of amala

How can a man who slammed Ekwueme (vp) with 300 years jail term and allowed his brother Shagari (president) walk away free fight corruption?

How can a man who claimed Abacha was not corrupt fight corruption?

How can someone who supervised the PTF hauling of money into abacha pockets pose as anti corrupt?

Buhari was introduced just to dismantle the government of Jonathan because the SW thought that the SE are becoming too powerful. They supported the unelectable buhari just because their selfish interest.

It's ok to hate buhari but please stop spreading lies
Which one is SE? Are becoming to powerful was Jonathan from the SE? What are you taking about was buhari not the same person that contested against Jonathan and lost before?
Did buhari not also jail shagari? How can you come here and say he allowed his brother walk free of corruption when he put umaru dikko in a carton and brought him back to Nigeria was umaru dikko not also his brother?
You and your likes have been talking trash about PTF for years and nothing concrete has come out of your rumour mongering apart from the fact that almost all the roads in the south east were last fixed by buhari as ptf chairman

Keep quiet and go and sleep