Atiku Demands Suspension of Tinubu's Chief of Staff Over Bribery Allegations, Budget Scandal

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate suspension of Femi Gbajabiamila, President Bola Tinubu's Chief of Staff, amid allegations of a N400 million bribery scandal. Abubakar also raised serious questions about a N27.4 billion allocation in the national budget to a government agency he described as "non-existent."

In a statement, Abubakar urged President Tinubu to prove his commitment to accountability by allowing an independent investigation into the allegations. He emphasized that public officials should not be shielded from scrutiny, particularly when significant sums of public funds are involved.

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How can you allocate N27.4 billion in the budget to a government agency that doesn’t exist without leaving more questions than answers?

"How can you allocate N27.4 billion in the budget to a government agency that doesn’t exist without leaving more questions than answers?" Abubakar asked, suggesting the explanation deepened public concerns rather than addressing them. He argued that such a discrepancy casts doubt on the credibility of the budget process and amounts to a serious issue of public accountability.

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Good governance is based on transparency and accountability and you can’t achieve that by protecting your family and friends. President Tinubu must lead by example by holding his Chief of Staff to the same standards of accountability as other public officials.

However, the Arewa Youth Integrity Forum (AYIF) pushed back against Abubakar's claims. The group described Gbajabiamila as a man of integrity with a shining public record. They contrasted this with what they called Atiku Abubakar's "long trail of corruption controversies," suggesting Gbajabiamila is superior to Abubakar.

Abubakar recommended Gbajabiamila's suspension to facilitate a thorough probe into what he termed a "national scandal." He stressed that transparency and accountability are cornerstones of good governance and that President Tinubu must lead by example by holding his Chief of Staff to the same standards as other public officials. "N27 billion is not a joke. The rule of law must prevail in this issue," Abubakar stated.

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N27 billion is not a joke. The rule of law must prevail in this issue. Let President Tinubu prove to Nigerians that he is sincerely committed to accountability in his administration.