Allegations against Gbajabiamila too serious to be swept under the carpet,  says Atiku

Allegations against Gbajabiamila too serious to be swept under the carpet,  says Atiku

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar says silence, indifference and passage of time cannot kill the unfolding corruption allegations against Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Reacting to the latest report by the Gazette newspaper, accusing the Chief of Staff of “illegally cornering tens of billions of naira in oil and gas royalties from petroleum regulatory commission, citing a fake law for presidential approval, Atiku said he is baffled by such level of large-scale corruption and the impunity that legitimises it.

“This issue goes beyond partisan politics; it’s about the impunity of corruption that undermines the welfare and future of ordinary Nigerians,” the ADC Presidential candidate said.

According to the former Vice President, “this level of corruption is unprecedented, and the government can’t pretend to be prosecuting opposition figures for corruption, while corruption is growing like weed under its own nose.”

Atiku reminded the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration that “you can’t preach the rule of law when your own officials are awarded with the trophy of untouchability.”

He said, “Gbajabiamila must be held accountable like every other public official and independently investigated to give him full opportunity to defend himself against the brazen act of corruption as detailed in the Gazette report.”

Atiku recalled that late former President Muhammadu Buhari suspended his SGF Babachir Lawal from office in order to allow for unfettered investigation against him, as such “Gbajabiamila shouldn’t be treated differently.”

He reminded President Tinubu that his controversial Chief of Staff has been mentioned in multiple allegations of bribery and corruption that has tainted the office of the President’s key aide:.

These allegations, he said,  included the stealing of $25,000 from a client in Georgia, USA leading to his debarment; multiple allegations of bribe-for-appointments; bribery allegation of N400m in the PFIPC and now this alleged cornering of N54 billion from an oil and gas regulatory agency.

The ADC presidential candidate added that, “given the apathetic and lackadaisical attitude of the Tinubu administration to the gales of corruption scandals against the Chief of Staff, it’s apparent that the government is just going through the motions to fool Nigerians.”

“Democracy is public service and when political office holders prioritise the amassing of personal wealth while the ordinary people are dying of hunger and preventable diseases, the Tinubu administration cannot pretend to be serving the people.”