The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja, Wike said he knows Gbajabiamila personally and believes he had no role in the alleged attempt to secure public funds through the disputed agency.
He criticised opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for demanding the Chief of Staff’s removal, saying only a government in power has the authority to appoint or dismiss officials.
“You should form your own government and sack whoever you want,” Wike said, describing the calls as politically motivated.
The minister argued that top government officials are often targeted with allegations aimed at embarrassing the President and weakening the administration.
According to him, claims that the Chief of Staff ordered payments to a non-existent agency were illogical, stressing that the office of the Chief of Staff has no constitutional responsibility for preparing the national budget.
Wike also questioned the credibility of the whistleblower behind the allegations, saying anyone with genuine evidence should submit themselves to security agencies instead of fleeing.
He recalled facing similar allegations in the past, including a false claim that his son collected $2 million for land allocation in Abuja, which he said security investigations later disproved.
Wike further dismissed Atiku’s criticism of the Tinubu administration, describing it as politically driven and lacking substance.
The controversy began after allegations emerged linking senior Presidency officials to the PFIPC, an agency the Presidency insists does not exist.
Despite the denial, the 2026 Appropriation Act reportedly contains a budget allocation of ₦1.3 billion for the PFIPC, while reports also claimed that signposts directing visitors to the council’s office remained inside the Federal Ministry of Health, raising fresh questions about the agency’s status.
