Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday dismissed allegations linking President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the claims as a politically motivated attempt to discredit the Presidency.

Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, Wike said the allegations lacked credibility and insisted that President Tinubu acted appropriately by directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.

He maintained that due process should be allowed to run its course, faulting calls by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures for the removal of the Chief of Staff before the conclusion of investigations.

“The demand by Atiku is not new. What did he do when he was Vice President? I know the Chief of Staff very well. Without prejudice, I know him very well,” Wike said.
According to the minister, the office of the Chief of Staff is often the first target of those seeking to embarrass an administration, arguing that the allegations were designed to create public distrust in the government.

“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.

Wike questioned the logic behind claims that Gbajabiamila could have approved funds for an agency that had no legal existence, insisting that the Chief of Staff neither creates government agencies nor prepares budgetary allocations.

“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 said.

The minister also challenged the credibility of the principal accuser, arguing that anyone making such weighty allegations should present evidence before the appropriate security agencies instead of making public accusations and disappearing.

“If the young man knows what he is saying is correct, why run away? You cannot make such serious allegations and then disappear. You need to be interrogated,” he added.

Drawing from his personal experience, Wike recalled being the subject of what he described as false allegations intended to tarnish his reputation, citing claims that his son collected $2 million in connection with a land transaction.

According to him, investigations later established that his son had travelled out of the country before the alleged transaction took place, exposing the allegation as false.

He disclosed that despite advice from some quarters to quietly settle the matter to avoid controversy, he rejected the suggestion. “I asked them, ‘Settle what?’ This is cheap blackmail. I will not allow that,” he said.

Wike further accused political opponents of exploiting the PFIPC controversy for partisan advantage, noting that opposition figures were quick to issue statements demanding the Chief of Staff’s removal even before any investigation had been concluded.

“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 motivated?” he queried.

While stressing that he had no direct knowledge of issues relating to the Budget Office, the minister maintained that the allegations against Femi Gbajabiamila lacked substance and should not be used as the basis for political campaigns.

He urged anyone in possession of credible evidence to cooperate fully with investigators by submitting relevant documents, communication records and other materials to the ICPC and other security agencies.

“If it is true, go before the security agencies with your phone records, your communications and every proof you have. That is the proper thing to do,” he said.
Wike insisted that demands for the Chief of Staff’s removal before the conclusion of the ICPC investigation were unjustifiable and contrary to the principles of due process.

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