TheCable

Shehu Sani, chairman of the senate committee which indicted Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation, says his panel is not rejoicing that a “mighty mortal has been caught in the trap of his fate”.

Sani said this in reaction to the suspension of Lawal.

President Muhammadu Buhari had suspended Lawal and Ayo Oke, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on Wednesday afternoon.

Sani described this as a good development, recalling that the senate had recommended the dismissal of Lawal after his committee investigated the activities of the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE) under the SGF’s leadership.

Back then, Buhari had written to the senate, saying he would not sack Lawal because he was not a given a fair hearing.

This not only irked the lawmakers but sparked a public outcry.

But in a statement late Wednesday, Sani commended Buhari for “acting upon the recommendations contained in the senate committee report on the humanitarian crisis in the north-east”.

“It is commendable for the president to heed the call to fumigate the throne of lice and bugs with the same ability he goes after rodents afar,” the statement by Sani read.

“The sword of truth is not just cast and sharpened for the neck of foes but also for those of friends.

“Courage is dispensing justice, greater courage is dispensing justice against our emotions and temptation towards saving a friend.

“It’s easier to annihilate an adversary for a heap wrong than reprimand a friend for a mountain of wrong.

“The senate and the committee have nothing personal against the SGF or any person affected, but we simply did our job in conformity with our constitutional responsibilities and the moral calling of our conscience.

“We cannot jubilate because a mighty mortal is caught in the trap of his fate, we are neither saints nor angels, but we have a duty to raise a card a blow the whistle.”