Former Secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has said that his sack has been nothing but a blessing in disguise to him.President Buhari in October last year, fired Babachir after he was indicted in a multi-million fraud scandal involving funds meant for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced People IDPs.
Speaking with reporters at a function in Abuja yesterday September 17th, Babachir said his monthly income as SGF was N953,000 but he made about half a billion last year. He said the termination of his appointment has afforded him time to focus on his business. He said everyone that sees him now compliments his good lookcs. He attributed it to peace of mind.
“Let me shock you, before I came into government, I have been in business, I was a very successful businessman. I am a world renowned IT consultant and I have a very large farm, spanning over 1,000 hectares, which I abandoned to join governance. I was earning N930, 000 monthly as the SGF, now that I have returned to my farm and reactivated it after my sack, I now have 4,000 hectares under cultivation. Last year, I earned close to half a billion naira from my farm proceeds, I have a cattle ranch that I am developing gradually and I am back to IT consultancy, life is now good.”
Making reference to a portion of the bible, Babachir went on to say
”Everything that happened to a man is for his own good. My sack I would say, is rather a blessing in disguise. Let me tell you, nothing happened to me. Right from the beginning of the saga, I knew that the whole thing was fabricated and that was why I did not give any damn from the beginning. The reason some people don’t like me is that I am so confident of myself. Did you hear me defend myself that time, I didn’t do it and I will not do it because I know that they are fabricated”.
He added that he had however forgiven all those who wanted his downfall, saying ”forgiveness is my number one principle because I want to make heaven”.
Babachir amongst other things was accused of allocating over N200 million for the cutting of grass at IDP camps.