The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to allow what he described as an unfettered investigation into fresh allegations of corruption against the former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, said the Presidency’s silence and indifference could not erase what he called the “unfolding corruption allegations” surrounding the President’s Chief of Staff.
The former vice president said he was shocked by allegations that Gbajabiamila “illegally cornered tens of billions of naira in oil and gas royalties from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), citing a fake law for presidential approval.”
According to him, the allegations are too weighty to be ignored and require an independent, transparent and impartial investigation.
“This issue goes beyond partisan politics; it is about the impunity of corruption that undermines the welfare and future of ordinary Nigerians,” Atiku said.
He added, “This level of corruption is unprecedented, and the government can’t pretend to be prosecuting opposition figures for corruption while corruption is growing like weeds under its own nose.”
Atiku maintained that public office holders, irrespective of their positions, must be subjected to the same standards of accountability if the country’s anti-corruption campaign is to retain any credibility.
Drawing a comparison with the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku recalled that Buhari suspended the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, over corruption allegations to allow investigators carry out their assignment without interference.
“Former President Buhari suspended his SGF, Babachir Lawal, from office to allow for an unfettered investigation, and Gbajabiamila should not be treated differently,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate argued that suspending the Chief of Staff would not amount to a declaration of guilt but would rather demonstrate the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
He also accused the Federal Government of operating double standards in the fight against corruption by allegedly pursuing opposition figures while ignoring serious allegations against senior officials within the administration.
Atiku insisted that Nigerians deserve answers to the allegations and urged President Tinubu to act decisively by directing a thorough and independent investigation into the matter.
