Fake Agency: Wike Defends Gbajabiamila, Challenges Adeniyi to Prove Allegations

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as he talked down the allegation filed against him by the self-acclaimed Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Matthew.

Wike debunked Gbajabiamila’s alleged link to the agency declared fake and non-existence by the presidency.

NPO Reported that Adeniyi had late last month accused the COS of demanding a substantial chunk of the take-off grant of N2.7bn allocated to the agency.

Adeniyi also alleged paying N400 million bribe to Gbajabiamila, an allegation which had alongside others sparked public outrage as calls for the COS’ resignation intensified.

While the presidency had since dismissed the allegations against the former House or Representatives Speaker with President Bola Tinubu ordering probe into the allegations, Wike backed Gbajabiamila.

The minister, in his address at his monthly media parley, maintained that the COS is innocent of the allegation, labelling it as plot to embrass the government.

“Let me tell you something, without any prejudice, I know the Chief of Staff very well. He did not. There are people you target in government to give bad name to a person.

“This is the Chief of Staff, the person in charge of Finance and Secretary to the Government.

“If you want to embarrass any government, target them.

“Does it make sense that an agency that does not exist that he will tell them to give him so, so amount of money?” He asked.

Wike claimed to have been a victim of such allegation while serving as a Chief of Staff to Rivers State government.

“Look, I have been a victim. As the Chief of Staff to a government, I’ve been a victim. Most public officers, people do everything possible to bring them down.” He said.

Wike challenged Adeniyi to stop hiding and present himself before the authorities to prove his allegations.

“It is not correct that the Chief of Staff did that. If the man is sincere, you made an allegation and run away. You would have come and proof your allegation.” He said.

The former Rivers State Governor also faulted those calling for Gbajabiamila’s withdrawal from his role.

“You can just come up and say everybody step aside.” Wike said.

He slammed the ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who equally demanded the resignation of the COS.