President Muhammadu Buhari has begun search for a new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) DAILY POST can authoritatively report.
This follows the indictment of the incumbent, Mr. Babachir David Lawal by the Nigerian Senate.
Recall that the upper chamber of the National Assembly last week accused Lawal of corruption in the award of contracts at the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE).
A report by the Senate ad-hoc committee on mounting humanitarian crisis in the North east headed by Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) fingered the SGF in a N2.5billion fraud at PINE.
Following Babachir’s indictment by the panel, the Senate resolved that he should resign and face prosecution for alleged fraud.
The Senate also said it would provide evidence against Babachir to President Buhari.
The presidency, a few days ago confirmed that investigation of the report was on.
On Wednesday, a presidency source told our correspondent that on the radar to replace the SGF are Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, and some senior serving and retired federal civil servants.
The source recalled that Ogbeh was initially one of those penciled down for the SGF job before powerful forces urged the president to settle for Lawal.
“Ogbeh was considered just after the APC won the presidency. He is a chieftain of the party that worked hard to help the president win, APC also won governorship in his state.
“He was a former deputy speaker and former Minister; both elective and appointment based positions. Thus, that he has the requisite experience is not in doubt.
“Being one of the top Northern leaders who formed APC and has friends across the country, the belief then was that the president would give him the seat.
“Eventually, Lawal was brought, perhaps because he is not a core politician like Ogbeh and others.
“Having said this, if Ogbeh doesn’t become the next SGF, I understand the president is seriously considering top technocrats.
“However, such persons can be retired or top serving seasoned public officers who must have worked in the Federal service.
“President Buhari has asked security agencies to carry out discreet profiling of some. The DSS of course is on this.”
Asked how soon Buhari may announce a new SGF, our source said Lawal will “definitely retain his seat till 2017”.
“It won’t be sudden but it will happen. I do not think the president will overlook some of Lawal’s actions which have been piling.
“One of such was his private abroad trip which sent tongues wagging. The SGF was discovered to have collected money to cover his expenses as if it were an official trip.
“This and other allegations, I believe are distracting him lately. The office of the SGF is too sensitive and it is most likely the president will deal with the situation once and for all in a matter of weeks.”
Comments