Atiku says Tinubu's defense of Gbajabiamila in PFIPC scandal amounts to self-indictment
Atiku Abubakar claims the presidency's defense of Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila over N400 million bribery allegations by PFIPC head Adeniyi Adeyemi amounts to self-indictment. Speaking through spokesperson Phrank Shaibu on June 30, Atiku argued the government's explanation exposes deeper institutional collapse under Tinubu.
The core contradiction: Presidency insists PFIPC never existed, yet records show approximately N1.3 billion was allocated to it in the 2026 Appropriation Act alongside the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. Atiku demands investigation into who prepared budget estimates for a fictitious agency, which National Assembly committees approved it, and who signed the budget into law.
He argues this reveals systemic issues where fictitious agencies siphon funds while critical sectors like education and healthcare remain underfunded. Atiku also accused EFCC of selective prosecution, targeting opposition figures while ignoring allegations against those in power. 'Whether elaborate fraud or governance failure, one conclusion is unavoidable: the government failed,' he stated, demanding a truly independent investigation with no political protection.
Will Nigerians accept budget allocations to non-existent agencies as normal governance, or demand accountability for how public funds vanish into questionable structures while essential services starve?