Gbajabiamila Scandal a Plot to Embarrass Tinubu, Says Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike

Gbajabiamila Scandal a Plot to Embarrass Tinubu, Says Wike

FCT Minister dismisses PFIPC allegations as politically motivated, challenges accuser to face security agencies

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations linking President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the claims as a politically motivated plot to embarrass the Tinubu administration. Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Thursday, Wike said the accusations made by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be the Director-General of the non-existent agency, were implausible and lacked credibility. The controversy erupted after Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila was involved in his appointment and claimed to have headed the fictitious government agency — claims the Presidency has since rejected, maintaining that no such agency exists. President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter and submit its findings within 30 days, while the Senate has also decided to await the outcome of the ICPC investigation before taking further legislative action.

The FCT minister questioned why Adeyemi reportedly went into hiding after making the allegations, insisting that anyone with genuine evidence should present it to security agencies. “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,” Wike said. “If it was indeed correct, eyeball to eyeball. Go to the security agency. Look at my communications with him. Look at the phone, I’ve been talking with him. Look at what we have done.” Wike argued that the Chief of Staff cannot authorise funds for an agency that does not exist, describing such suggestions as illogical. “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,” he stated. The minister also questioned the logic of the allegations, noting that government agencies operate through established budgetary processes that cannot be circumvented by a single official. He further emphasised that the accuser’s decision to flee rather than face investigators casts serious doubt on the credibility of the claims, and he called on Nigerians to scrutinise the motives behind such allegations.

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According to the minister, senior government officials, particularly the Chief of Staff, are often prime targets for those seeking to discredit an administration. “There are people you target in government to give a bad name to their boss. This is the Chief of Staff. This is the person who is in charge of finance and the Secretary to the Government. If you want to embarrass any government, these are the targets first,” Wike said. He expressed confidence in Gbajabiamila’s integrity, stating, “Without any prejudice, I know the Chief of Staff very, very well.” Wike noted that the Chief of Staff position is one of the most strategic in any administration, making it a natural target for those seeking to destabilise the government. He emphasised that Gbajabiamila has served with dedication and should not be judged based on unsubstantiated claims from individuals with questionable motives. The minister also pointed out that the timing of the allegations, coming amid ongoing government reforms, suggests a coordinated effort to distract the administration from its policy objectives.

Drawing from personal experience, Wike recalled how he was previously the victim of what he described as fabricated allegations designed to tarnish his reputation. “Someone 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 disclosed that some people 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. The minister used his personal experience to illustrate how false allegations can be weaponised against public officials, urging Nigerians to be cautious about accepting unverified claims at face value. He called on the media to exercise responsible journalism by verifying facts before publishing sensational stories that could harm the reputation of innocent individuals, warning that such tactics undermine public trust in governance.

The FCT minister also faulted calls by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for opposition parties to be included in the investigation ordered by President Tinubu. “The demand by Atiku is rubbish. When did the government start? When they want to put the person, okay, you from party A, come; party B, come; party C, come?” he said. He accused the opposition of attempting to exploit the controversy for political advantage, noting that statements condemning Gbajabiamila were issued 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. Wike further criticised the opposition’s approach, stating that their eagerness to condemn without waiting for investigation outcomes reveals their political agenda. He called on Nigerians to reject attempts by opposition figures to turn every national issue into a political battlefield, insisting that institutions like the ICPC should be allowed to do their work without interference. He also questioned the consistency of the opposition, noting that similar calls for transparency were absent when they held power.

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The minister insisted 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. He argued that calls for Gbajabiamila’s removal were premature and designed to pressure the President into making a hasty decision that could set a dangerous precedent. “Government has asked the ICPC to investigate because it is a criminal allegation. You don’t ask people to step aside simply because somebody made an accusation. Let the investigation establish the facts first,” he said. Wike alleged that some political actors were seeking to use the controversy to attack the Tinubu administration. He also criticised Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, accusing him and his supporters of turning national issues into political debates instead of allowing institutions to carry out their responsibilities. “Everything cannot be politics. They have never been consistent, so I don’t take many of those comments seriously,” he said, adding that the opposition’s fixation on every government action reflects a lack of constructive engagement with policy matters.

During the same media chat, Wike also addressed his perceived unpopularity among civil servants, attributing it to his administration’s decision to block avenues for fraudulent diversion of public funds. “We waste our resources on frivolities. You expect me to approve funds for you to go to America for a one-week conference on land administration. What is that?” Wike queried. “Go to Lagos and Port Harcourt, study how their own works or did not work and make a comparison here. How do you encourage me to sign N20 million for somebody to travel to America for a conference on land administration? I won’t do that.” He disclosed that before he assumed office, about 65 per cent of the FCT budget was devoted to recurrent expenditure, but his administration reversed the ratio to 70 per cent capital expenditure and 30 per cent recurrent. “That is why I can’t be popular among civil servants. If you ask anybody today which minister they don’t like, it is me. Why? Because the money they used for conferences, I put it together and used it to build roads,” Wike said. He defended his approach to governance, stating that his priority is delivering tangible infrastructure and services to the people of the FCT rather than pleasing civil servants who may prefer business as usual. He also noted that his administration has completed several road projects and initiated new ones, which he believes are more beneficial to the majority of FCT residents than foreign trips and lavish conferences.

The minister also referred to the recent abduction of pupils in Oyo State, saying attempts to politicise the incident were unnecessary after Governor Seyi Makinde clarified that President Tinubu did not personally call him over the matter. Wike emphasised that security issues should be treated with the seriousness they deserve, rather than being turned into political tools for scoring points against the federal government. He called for unity in addressing the nation’s security challenges, stressing that political differences should not hinder cooperation between federal and state governments on matters of public safety. The minister also urged state governors to collaborate more effectively with federal security agencies to ensure the safety of all Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliations.

On opposition politics, Wike said many opposition parties were dealing with internal disputes rather than providing alternatives to the government. He rejected claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was responsible for the legal challenges facing opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC). According to him, some parties created their own problems through internal disagreements and legal decisions. Referring to disputes involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , Wike questioned why cases involving the commission, whose headquarters is in Abuja, were filed in other states. He suggested that opposition parties should focus on resolving their internal conflicts rather than blaming the ruling party for their misfortunes. He also observed that many opposition figures have been unable to provide coherent policy alternatives, choosing instead to criticise every government action without offering constructive solutions. He challenged the opposition to present their vision for Nigeria rather than engaging in what he described as “destructive politics” that does not serve the interest of the people.