Contemporary political discourse in the media and other platforms seem to indicate that the cabal and agents of discord and disharmony have stylishly shifted focus from the dirty battle with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to his amiable Chief of Staff, Hakeem Olufemi Gbajabiamila (a.k.a Gbaja).

However, the group will soon realize the futility of manufacturing excuses both flimsy and perceived to remove him from his position, particularly when his principal, who have updated security report about his daily routine and conduct has passed vote of confidence on him.

In similitude of media war with the President, the group is leaving no stone unturned in its attempt to “give a dog a bad name to make its hanging plausible”.

Unfortunately, these restive complainants will soon come to terms with the absolute failure of this attempted cruxifixction with a plastic nail because like it has failed to upturn the advantages of Mr President, the realization that a castle erected on the foundation of lies cannot withstand a whirlwind will soon dawn on the group.

One point to the advantage of the Chief of Staff is that the President himself has experienced, first hand, the evil of contorted stories and the stubbornness of the opposition in sticking to fabrications, damaging lies and distortions even when words spread by them to the community plainly contradict facts and the reality.

It is only in Nigeria that people argue ceaselessly against reasons and hold on tenaciously to their position despite abundant evidence to the contrary.

Is it not in this our country that a foreign University confirmed that it conferred a degree on the President of Nigeria and people argued that the certificate did not emanate from the corridors of the institution? People like us who were privy to the fact that the man actually graduated from the university were called names and labeled as betrayers of facts.

The intervention of the British Broadcasting Corporation did not pacify the enemies as they continuously alleged that the respected institution has been bribed. One wonders the volume of money that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could have to be able to bribe an organization whose annual operating cost is six billion Pound sterling, an amount that is more than the combined budget of many African countries.

The laughably dogmatic tendencies of Nigerians and the struggle and quest to bring successful people down from their lofty height is becoming legendary. The rate at which Femi Gbajabiamila is accused of bribery and corruption gives the impression that the only job specification of the Chief of Staff to the president is to take bribe.

Politics have rules and one may not want to quickly agree that only ungodly people go into partisan politics because there are many people who have exhibited finesse and decency by playing to the rules of the game.

Unfortunately, some members of the masses are so gullible that they can easily be swayed by the evil design of selfish self-centered individual. This may stem from ignorance and poverty of the mind that has turned some members of the public to moronic robots. In which case, they routinely have no meaningful preoccupation than to re-echo the gibberish thoughts of their masters.

While it is not the purpose of this article to give a list of accusations leveled against GBAJABIAMILA, it suffices to say that the current name calling and flippant accusations are a distraction to the man and his office and a great impediment in the way of good governance.

A good number of members of the constituency from which the Chief of Staff emanates will not agree with the graphs of a greedy, megalomaniac and selfish individual being put on the canvass by the enemies of a man who has demonstrated in no small measure that he is selfless and caring to the welfare of Nigerians. His records of successes in his constituency are a testimony to this fact.

The pertinent question here is: why is it that the tag of corruption was not pasted on Gbajabiamila’s chest when, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he presided over and controlled a large budget on which he could unleash corruption with minimal consequences? The judicious employment of his constituency allowance is a testimony to his financial prudence and transparency. Let those who care show us the number of his colleagues who have brought many new life changing projects into their constituency.

Did the Chief of Staff suddenly become acquisitive, avaricious, covetous and grasping overnight? One point is very obvious to those who know him. He is far from being greedy and reckless. This can be concluded from the way he has expended and allocated constituency finances in a transparent, easy to decipher and overt manner.

The construction of additional modern general hospital on Iyun Road in Surulere, the newly opened stadium complex, the student’s hostel at the University of Lagos, the new police station In Bode, the refurbishment of the high rise building in the Surulere campus of the Lagos State University of science and Technology, the Bode Thomas Road extension and construction of a bridge are few examples of the project he embarked upon during his tenure. Of course, he didn’t have to do it but he did.

If, as it is presently being projected by those who wanted him removed as Chief of staff, he is a corrupt, and self centered, he would not have executed such large number of.projects in his immediate constituency.Let us start now to give credit to those who deserve it.
• Ojikutu is a retired Professor of Statistics and former Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Lagos.