Again, FG under fire over PFIPC scandal
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki has challenged President Bola Tinubu to order a forensic investigation into the scandal surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and suspend all officials linked to the controversy.
PDP, in a statement issued by Ini Ememobong, the national publicity secretary, described the controversy as “a damning revelation of the incompetence and negligence of the APC-led federal government.”
The embattled PFIPC Director General, Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi and Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, have been at daggers drawn over the existence of the agency.
The controversy began on June 11 when Gbajabiamila issued a public disclaimer disowning the appointment of Adeyemi as the head of PFIPC.
But Adeyemi challenged the disclaimer and urged Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the matter.
The debate spiked on July 1 after the presidency issued a statement backing Gbajabiamila and accusing Adeyemi of forging an appointment letter and falsely presenting himself as a presidential appointee.
The Police has filed an eight-count criminal charge against Adeyemi, according to Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson.
In his statement challenging Gbajabiamila’s disclaimer, Adeyemi alleged that the disagreement was triggered by his refusal to part with 48 percent of the agency’s take-off grant.
He also claimed to have paid N400 million to secure his appointment, with a remaining balance of N200 million.
A princely N1.3 billion was allocated to the council in the approved 2026 budget and the account it opened with the CBN through the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF).
Reacting, the PDP faction said allegations made by Adeyemi against Gbajabiamila and the presidency’s response through Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, exposed “deep institutional failures within the federal government” and have confirmed that the APC-led Federal Government is running the country with alarming recklessness, where nepotism and cronyism have displaced merit and impunity has become standard practice.”
The party noted that the presidency’s position on the controversy raised more questions than answers on how an alleged impostor could have secured office space in a government facility, been assigned staff, received budgetary allocations, operated Central Bank-registered accounts, and interacted with agencies such as the EFCC.
“From the appointment of deceased persons into government offices, to the inclusion of undeserving individuals on the presidential pardon list, the N800 billion Progressive Governors Forum scandal, and numerous other avoidable blunders, this administration has demonstrated a troubling pattern of institutional failure.
“If the Presidency’s account is correct, that Prince Adeyemi is an impostor, then it means the Federal Government is so porous and vulnerable.
“If, on the other hand, Prince Adeyemi’s account is accurate… then this is yet another act of shameless corruption added to a long and growing queue of unchallenged corrupt officials in this administration. Anyway this pendulum swings, the Nigerian people lose.”
It said if the presidency’s explanation were accepted, it would still amount to “a monumental failure of the state” because an impostor allegedly operated undetected at the highest levels of government.
The faction added that a responsible government would have immediately ordered an independent forensic investigation, suspended officials implicated in the matter, introduced reforms to prevent a recurrence and apologised to Nigerians.
Instead, it alleged that the federal government was attempting to downplay public concerns while hoping the controversy would fade.
“We therefore call on the president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to immediately order a forensic investigation of this scandal by a reputable firm of international standing, announce the suspension of all key officials connected to the matter, order a comprehensive reorganisation of the Presidency, and issue an unreserved apology to Nigerians for this deeply embarrassing situation.”
The PDP added that the presidency owed Nigerians “more than explanations” and must demonstrate accountability, warning that failure to do so would further erode public trust and strengthen calls for a change of government in 2027.
