NAIJA NEWS
Recent developments suggest a concerted effort by certain influential figures within and outside the Presidential Villa to implicate Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, in the transactions of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
This comes in the wake of a series of leaked memos from the ministry and its agencies, following Edu’s suspension and ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A particularly contentious memo dated December 18, 2023, from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, revealed President Tinubu’s approval of N3 billion from the COVID-19 Palliative Fund for verifying the National Social Register.
The disclosure of this memo led to widespread reactions on social media, with some Nigerians expressing outrage.
In response to the uproar, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, clarified that the approval of the N3 billion was a direct decision by President Tinubu, countering insinuations that Gbajabiamila was involved.
Furthermore, a presidential aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity with Vanguard, indicated that the release of such memos is likely to persist, suggesting that “Gbajabiamila was the prime target” of these revelations.
The source said, “The CoS did not convey his approval. He conveyed approval of his boss, it’s the practice with Abba Kyari and others, that the Chief of Staff conveys approval or otherwise of the President to Cabinet members and institutions that might have requested one or two things from the President. The current Chief of Staff has not faced twenty per cent of the attacks one of his predecessors, Abba Kyari got over wrong allegations. President Tinubu’s verdict on his Chief of Staff’s integrity is known to the public.
“The latest memo that came out was just an attempt by some persons within and outside the Villa to tie Gbajabiamila to the Betta Edu investigation. Thankfully, one of the official spokesmen of the President, Mr Bayo Onanuga has clarified that indeed, the N3 billion was approved by the President himself and not by Gbajabiamila.
