The National Association of Royal Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NARTRN) has urged the Senate to act cautiously and soften its stance on the embattled Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal.

According to ceoafrica, this is contained in a statement jointly signed by the national president of the association and traditional ruler of Umudioka Kingdom in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, Dr Thomas Obiefule, and the national secretary, Dalhatu Katsina of Jigawa State, Ambassador Abubakar Lawal.

The traditional rulers said the Senate’s demand for the resignation of Lawal had assumed worrisome dimension, thus the need for the Senate to thread softly and avoid actions capable of generating bad blood.

“The nation has more than enough problems and horrible socio-economic issues to contend with. Only fervent prayers, tolerance, understanding and reasonable support for the government of the day are needed to move the nation forward.

“The allegation of self-enrichment through award of contracts being levelled against the SGF should be treated with caution and wisdom and not swallowed line, hook and sinker,” the statement read in part.

The president of the royal traditional rulers said that while government, including the Senate, was at liberty to carry out thorough investigations on the allegation, the demand by Senate for the resignation of the SGF was quite abrupt and capable of generating further tension.

He said the sensitive nature of the office of the SGF demanded that both the executive and legislative arms should look at the allegation without bias, rancour or spirit of vendetta.

He said Babachir Lawal had performed creditably as the chief scribe to the federal government, adding that there had been series of allegations on falsification of documents, budget padding and other forms of dishonourable conducts against the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives without the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly resigning from office.

He also said the rejection of acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, by the Senate for confirmation was not healthy for the Nation and should be revisited by the lawmakers.