A Whopping N24 Billion Take-Off Grant About To Be Looted, As President Bola Tinubu Faces Intense Pressure To Resign, For Harbouring The Most Corrupt Undemocratic Federal Government officials.
The very disturbing allegations currently swirling around the Presidency once again, raise serious questions about transparency, accountability and the quality of governance under President Bola Tinubu.
If found to be true and not addressed properly, many fear, may tear Nigeria apart.
According to the alleged reports making the rounds on the social media, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the embattled Director-General of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, PEAC, and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, alleged that he paid as much as ₦600 million, in exchange for an appointment to head a Federal Agency; ₦400 million was allegedly paid upfront, with an additional ₦200 million expected later.
Even more troubling was his claim that pressure was mounted on him to surrender 48 percent of a proposed ₦24 billion take-off grant for the Agency.
To be clear, these remain allegations.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has firmly denied any involvement and has reportedly stated that the Agency in question does not even exist.
Nonetheless, this denial raises even more troubling questions.
If the Agency truly does not exist, how then did it allegedly secure budgetary allocations in the Appropriation Act? Who approved the recruitment of hundreds of staff reportedly attached to the Agency? Who processed the administrative files? Who authorised the opening of Bank accounts, if such accounts indeed exist?
The President Tinubu administration owes Nigerians more than mere denials and Press statements. It owes the citizens facts, documents and transparency.
The Presidency should immediately make public all relevant records concerning the Agency in question. Nigerians deserve to see the appointment letters, budgetary provisions, payroll records, establishment approvals and any other official documentation relating to the matter.
Equally, Prince Adeyemi must be prepared to substantiate his claims with credible evidence, including proof of any alleged payments and all relevant correspondence.
This is because, the implications are enormous. If these allegations are false, then a grave injustice has been done to Senior Officials of government; and those responsible for spreading falsehood must be held accountable.
However, if there is truth in these claims, then Nigerians are confronted with yet another painful reminder of why confidence in public Institutions continues to decline under President Tinubu’s watch.
At a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, allegations of influence peddling and appointment racketeering, any attempt to divert public resources cannot simply be swept under the carpet.
This is precisely why many Nigerians continue to look towards His Excellency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as a credible alternative for the 2027 Presidency. Throughout his political career, Atiku has consistently advocated for institutional reforms, transparency, restructuring and the strengthening of democratic accountability.
Nigeria desperately needs a system where public appointments are based on merit, where Institutions are stronger than individuals, and where no Public Official is beyond scrutiny.
Nigeria cannot progress on the foundation of secrecy and denial.
The President Tinubu administration must come clean this time, as Nigerians deserve the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
