A coalition of more than 300 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has thrown its weight behind the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, describing allegations made against him by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as “baseless” and “without credible evidence.”

 

The coalition also called on security agencies to arrest, investigate and prosecute Adeyemi over the allegations, insisting that the claims were aimed at tarnishing the image of the President’s Chief of Staff.

 

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday after an emergency meeting, the coalition said it convened the briefing to “set the records straight” over allegations levelled against Gbajabiamila by Adeyemi, who it said presented himself as the Director-General of the purported  Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

 

The statement was jointly signed by representatives of the participating civil society organisations, including Amb. Philip Okwaggbe, Chairman, COCSO; Amadi Chindi, Initiative for Community Development; Ejiroghene Akporume Ovie, Poverty Alleviation for the Poor Initiative; Chiamaka Chukwuebuka A., Women Centre for Self-Empowerment and Development; Balarabe Muhammadu, Leadership Centre for Peace Intercity and Transformation Initiative; Idongesit Edidiong Etop, Youth Enhancement Development Organization; Josiah Josephine Nanbam, Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Economic Advancement.

 

Others include Funmilayo Eunice Obadare, Global Youths Awareness Development; Nosakhare E. Ehisogie, Positive Action for Agricultural Produce Initiative; Tamarapreye Ebiowei Godwin, Advocacy Centre for Professional Ethics Values; Adajinege Orahachi, Anticorruption Network for Peace Initiative; Chubado Barkindo Demba, Centre for Agri-Business Support in Nigeria; Abatcha Babakura H., Citizen Centre for Positive Change Initiative; and Adda Manga Peters, Initiative for Transformation of the Under Privileged in Nigeria, among others.

 

The latest intervention comes amid growing controversy surrounding the PFIPC following allegations by Adeyemi, who claimed to head the body and accused top government officials, including the Chief of Staff, of involvement in alleged irregular appointments and the purported sale of government positions.

 

The allegations have generated widespread public debate, with opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and other political stakeholders calling for an independent investigation into the affair.

 

The Presidency has, however, distanced itself from the council, maintaining that it is not a recognised government agency.

 

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the signatories said they had carefully reviewed Adeyemi’s allegations and found them to be unsubstantiated.

 

“We have carefully examined the claims and allegations of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and have seen that he is not saying the truth but wants to intentionally tarnish the image of the Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, without substantive evidence to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt,” the coalition said.

 

It further alleged that Adeyemi was attempting to whip up public sentiment against the President’s Chief of Staff.

 

“We want to state categorically that these claims and allegations by Matthew are baseless. Despite calling sections of the media to brief them and claiming he was being intimidated, such emotions cannot help him because we know he is trying to whip up sentiments to drag the Chief of Staff into the mud with him, and we will not allow that to happen,” it added.

 

Highlighting Gbajabiamila’s public service record, the coalition described him as a globally respected parliamentarian whose tenure as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives witnessed significant legislative reforms, including the restoration of the January-December budget cycle, the passage of key economic legislation and interventions targeted at students, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable Nigerians.

 

The coalition also cited his sponsorship of several bills, including the Students’ Loan Bill, the Physically Challenged (Empowerment) Bill, the Criminalisation of Estimated Billing System Bill, the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill and the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill.

 

According to the group, Gbajabiamila also demonstrated exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic through legislative interventions, advocacy for social protection programmes and welfare initiatives, while continuing to pursue professional development through executive education at Stanford University, the University of Cambridge and the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

 

Reaffirming its confidence in the Chief of Staff, the coalition maintained that he could not have authorised the establishment of an illegal or unconstitutional body.

 

“We unequivocally state that the Chief of Staff cannot be unpatriotic to give a go-ahead to establish a non-existent establishment, which is illegal and unconstitutional. Therefore, the lies against him are not to be taken seriously,” it said.

 

The coalition urged security agencies to take immediate action against Adeyemi.

 

“We therefore call for the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew because this matter is not to be handled with kid gloves, as the international community is watching Nigeria,” the coalition said.