#Gbajagate: The tripartite narrative of media framing, political scapegoating, and demanding institutional reforms, By Adeolu Adekola

Recent allegations against Nigeria's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and subsequent clarifications from the Presidency highlight a critical need for institutional reforms to improve service delivery. The author argues that focusing solely on scapegoating individuals ignores the systemic issues that allow such situations to arise.

The core of the issue lies in the unexplained existence and operation of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). These entities reportedly infiltrated the system, were inserted into the 2026 budget, and operated from the federal secretariat for months in 2025. The Presidency's statement questioning their legality is problematic, as government departments and agencies typically follow established creation processes.

Questions linger about how these councils came into existence if the Presidency denies appointing their leadership. The author posits two hypotheses: either the denial is a convenient way to make scapegoats of certain individuals, or there's a public fallout among powerful parties. This situation echoes past scandals like #Adeosungate, where initial allegations of fund misappropriation escalated into a certificate forgery issue.

The author urges a deeper examination of federal institutional frameworks, including the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, which may have facilitated the flow of public funds in this regard. The article emphasizes that the media and citizens must demand accountability not just from individuals but from the entire system.