PFIPC: Wike defends Gbajabiamila, alleges plot to embarrass Tinubu

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Thursday came out strongly in defence of Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the raging controversies on fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of PFIPC had alleged that he was appointed to lead the fictitious agency by Gbajabiamila after agreeing to pay N400 million bribe.

He also claimed that the Chief of Staff disowned him and his agency because he has not paid N200 million balance from the agreed bribery money.

However, Gbajabiamila has denied the claim.

The Chief of Staff has also ordered the police to investigate Adeyemi who is currently on the run.

Speaking during a media chat on Thursday, Wike said the claims by Adeyemi were aimed at embarrassing the Tinubu administration as they were politically motivated and lacking credibility.

Wike also also said the order by Tinubu for Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter was the right step as he dismissed calls by some leaders of opposition parties for the sack of Gbajabiamila over the controversies.

He specifically dismissed call by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for an independent probe of the controversies over the PFIPC.

“The demand by Atiku is not new. What did he do when he was the Vice President? But let me tell you something. I know the Chief of Staff very, very well. Without prejudice, I know him very well,” he said.

He also alleged that Gbajabiamila is being attacked because of his strategic position in Tinubu’s government.

“There are people who target those in government just to give a bad name to their boss. If you want to embarrass any government, the first person you target is the Chief of Staff because people believe that once you get to him, the government will be embarrassed,” he stated.

While further faulting the allegations, Wike said it was impossible for the Chief of Staff to create a budget or authorize funds for an agency that did not exist.

“Does it make sense that an agency that does not exist he will ask somebody to give it such an amount of money? It is madness. The Chief of Staff cannot create a budget. It is simply not possible,” Wike said.

He also said the fact that Adeyemi has now gone into hiding after making the allegations indicated that he was not saying the truth.

“If the young man knows what he is saying is correct, why run away? How can you make such a statement and then run away? You need to be interrogated,” he added.

The FCT Minister added that he has been a victim of such accusation designed to tarnish his reputation.

“I have been a victim. Somebody once claimed he knew my children and alleged that my son collected two million dollars after speaking with me about land.

“We investigated the matter and discovered that my son had travelled on a British Airways flight that morning, whereas the alleged transaction was said to have taken place at night,” he said.

He added that that some individuals advised him to quietly settle the matter to avoid negative publicity, but he refused.

“One of them told me that because of my position, I should settle it. I asked, ‘Settle what?’ This is cheap blackmail. I will not allow that,” he said.

He accused the opposition of exploiting the PFIPC controversy for political advantage with the way they issued statements condemning the Chief of Staff almost immediately after the allegations surfaced.

“A man accused the Chief of Staff today, and by the following morning, the opposition had already issued a statement. What is the business of people like Atiku if it is not politically driven?” he asked.

However, the Minister said he had no knowledge of any issues relating to the budget office but insisted that the allegations against Gbajabiamila were unsubstantiated.

“I am not saying whether there was anything around the budget office because I do not know. But the Chief of Staff cannot create a budget,” he said.

He challenged the accuser to submit all available evidence, including communication records, to security agencies instead of evading investigation.

“If it is true, go before the security agencies. Show them your communications, your phone records and every other proof. But you cannot make such serious allegations and then run away,” Wike said.

He also faulted calls by opposition figures for the immediate removal of the Chief of Staff, insisting that no public official should be condemned or dismissed based on unverified allegations.

“People are saying the Chief of Staff must be sacked. By who? The opposition? Why should he be sacked over unproven allegations? That is not how government works,” Wike said