The Arewa Think Tank has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to let recent allegations involving his Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, affect decisions about members of his administration.
Speaking to journalists in Kaduna, the group’s Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said reports about the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) were politically driven. He urged Nigerians to rely on verified information and asked President Tinubu to stay focused on governance instead of political controversies.
“We want to tell President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow unverified claims to deny him the services of capable people as we approach the next general elections. Nigerians should also be careful to verify information before drawing conclusions,” he said.
Yakubu said top supporters of the President often face public allegations when they are seen as taking on bigger national roles. He cited similar controversies involving Senator Abdulaziz Yari, saying they emerged during discussions about the former Zamfara State governor’s possible role in preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The reactions followed claims by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, received N400 million through a proxy and demanded another N200 million to secure his appointment as PFIPC DG.
He also alleged that the Chief of Staff demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s N27.4 billion take-off grant, a request he said he rejected.
However, the Presidency denied the claims, insisting that the PFIPC does not exist under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. It also maintained that Adeyemi was never appointed to head such an agency.
According to Yakubu, the Presidency, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made its position clear. It said the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency and that Gbajabiamila does not approve appointments or issue official correspondence on behalf of the organisation. It also dismissed reports that the Chief of Staff was facing removal from office and reaffirmed that he remains in office.
The group welcomed the Presidency’s clarification, with Yakubu saying it should help address public concerns.
“The official position of the Presidency is very clear. Nigerians should rely on verified information rather than speculation that could distract the government,” he said.
He also urged political actors to act responsibly and avoid actions that could weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.
Despite the Presidency’s denial, Adeyemi argued that the agency appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Budget and claimed it has been operating for more than a year with offices, bank accounts and other official records.
He also called on President Tinubu to set up an independent panel to investigate his allegations against the Chief of Staff, as well as an alleged assassination attempt against him in 2025.
