Juliet Akoje in Abuja and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja
The Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA) has alleged that interests within and outside the presidential villa are scheming to take over the job of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, by linking the former Speaker of the House of Representatives to the transactions carried out by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
According to a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Mr. Ibrahim Dan-Musa, “Distractors have failed in their plot against the engine room of Tinubu administration.”
It was learnt that memos have continued to leak from the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry and its agencies, following the suspension of Edu, who is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Also, another group, Concern Citizen for Good Governance (CCGG), yesterday raised the alarm that those behind the attack against Gbajabiamila are orchestrating a deliberate attempt to pull down the president.
This was contained in statement by issued by its spokesperson, Ahmed Ademu and made available to journalists in Lokoja, Kogi State.
A leaked memo dated December 18, 2023, from the Office of Chief of Staff to the President had revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved N3 billion from the COVID-19 Palliative Fund for verification of the National Social Register.
Dan-Musa said: “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.
“This is a time for the government to settle down. I commend the president for dismissing Betta Edu and questioning those attempting to implicate Gbajabiamila in a letter of approval.”
The group wondered how the Chief of Staff can assume the position of authority, urging politicians to learn tolerance instead of engaging in a direct campaign of calumny against Gbajabiamila, who has served eight years as speaker without scandal.
On his own, Ademu stated that the attackers have commenced the attempt by launching a campaign of calumny against the Chief of Staff to the President, “who is a strong pillar in the presidency, so that the president can fail.”
The group expressed worries in a statement titled: ‘Mischief Makers Blindfolded with Illiteracy behind Campaign of Calumny against Chief of Staff to President, Femi Gbajabiamila’.
They carpeted those behind the campaign of calumny, alleging that they had orchestrated the plan long ago and are now forcefully linking the Chief of Staff to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
Meanwhile, Dan-Musa further said mischief-makers are blinded by illiteracy behind the campaign of calumny against Gbajabiamila, noting that such memos would continue to circulate, with Gbajabiamila as the prime target.
He further said: “To say Gbaja is an authority in law and a professor in government procedures is not an overstatement. It is clear that some people are still seeking the downfall of one of the best brains in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, but they have failed.
“Someone who managed 360 elected representatives of the Federal House of Representatives for four years without any blemish will not fall for a peanut. Detractors do not understand the quality and value of Femi Gbajabiamila. The Chief of Staff has crossed the bridge before it collapsed, so what they are pursuing is emptiness.
“We, the concerned citizens for good governance, will soon expose all of you behind the evils you planned. It is now an open secret that you want the government of President Tinubu to fail by trying to pull down the pillars of support behind him.”
He, however, added that: “Whether you are a Christian or Muslim, whatever you sow, you shall reap. We will go after all of you and expose you to the world.”
