Babachir Lawal is undermining President Buhari? North-east group address rumours

- The North East Concerned Movement for Democracy in Nigeria‎ has declared support for Mr Babachir Lawal

- The group defended the recent actions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)

- They stated that Lawal is supporting President Muhammadu Buhari's plans to revive the North East region

A group known as the North East Concerned Movement for Democracy in Nigeria‎ has declared support for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal.

In a statement issued in Bauchi on Tuesday, February 21, the group stated that the allegations of corruption levelled against the SGF by the Shehu Sani led Senate committee is unfounded.

The statement was signed by its chairman, Alhaji Bala Saleh and Secretary Comrade Mai-Awaki Baban Fati, Daily Trust reports.

The group claimed the the Senate committee is only hell-bent on ridiculing and spoiling the image of the SGF by linking him to an alleged diversion of funds meant for the North East Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs).

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Part of the statement read: "As a concerned group of think-tank, we challenge Sani Committee not to attempt in rubbishing the SGF in favour of their agents fully aware that the SGF is a pillar in supporting President Buhari in the fight against corruption to bring back the glory of Nigeria and Nigerians who suffered in the dark days of the previous administration.

"We shall not hesitate to caution the Sani committee to desist from the nefarious act of attempt to indict the SGF apparently to drag his good image to the mud in the event of implementing the script of their masters who failed to drag the Buhari administration to plunder."

The group noted that the SGF is also a victim of the insurgency as his kith and kin have been killed and displaced by the insurgents.

It added that Lawal has been very active in helping the victims of insurgency in his home state of Adamawa before he was appointed SGF by President Buhari.

The group therefore cautioned the committee to leave the‎ SGF alone to enable him concentrate on the business of implementing President Buhari’s blueprint for the development of the country.

It added that findings of the investigative panel set up by President Buhari under the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has revealed the truth about the allegations and exonerated the SGF as such the issue should be put to rest.

"We want to state categorically that the SGF has not diverted any development fund meant for the North East development as insinuated and we describe it as the figment of imaginations," the group added.

READ ALSO: Group blasts Lawal Babachir for supporting pro-government protests

Two weeks ago, the SGF appeared before the Nigerian Senate to defend the 2017 budget proposals for his office.

The SGF said N400 million was proposed for the purchase of vehicles for former presidents since their vehicles were usually due for change at the end of four years.