Atiku denies Buhari created fake PFIPC agency, blames Tinubu's administration
Atiku Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, denied that former President Muhammadu Buhari created the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). Through his media aide Paul Ibe, Atiku said Buhari established the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) in September 2019, chaired by economist Doyin Salami. He described PFIPC as a "manifestation of Tinubu's "tiwa tiwa" government" that allegedly outsmarted senior officials including the SGF, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Finance, CBN, NASS leaders Akpabio and Abbas, EFCC, DSS, Nigeria Police and other security agencies. Atiku accused President Bola Tinubu of incompetence, claiming the scandal shows he is clueless and wasting resources searching for scapegoats, insisting accountability rests on Tinubu’s table. The alleged agency reportedly operated for two years under self-acclaimed Director General Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, sparking national debate and calls for an independent investigation into its establishment and funding.
This controversy matters because it questions the integrity of government institutions and the effectiveness of oversight bodies meant to prevent fraudulent agencies. If a fake body could operate for years undetected, it reveals potential weaknesses in regulatory checks that could affect investors and citizens alike. The involvement of high‑level offices such as the SGF, Ministry of Finance and anti‑corruption agencies raises concerns about whether due diligence is being bypassed or ignored.
Should Nigerians push for a transparent probe into how PFIPC came to exist, or demand stronger oversight to prevent similar scandals under any administration?