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A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the Nigerian government of exposing a “troubling pattern of institutional failure” over the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement issued on Sunday, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the allegations and the Presidency’s response had raised serious concerns about governance and the integrity of public institutions.
The PDP argued that if the Presidency’s account is accurate, it is alarming that an individual could allegedly obtain office space, staff, budgetary allocations, Central Bank accounts and interact with government agencies without detection.
The party also maintained that if the allegations made by Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew against the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, are eventually proven, it would amount to another case of corruption within the current administration.
According to the opposition party, either scenario reflects poorly on the Nigerian Government, insisting that Nigerians stand to lose regardless of how the controversy is resolved.
The PDP further criticised the Nigerian Government for what it described as a covert internal review instead of ordering an independent investigation, suspending officials linked to the allegations and introducing institutional reforms.
The controversy centres on Adeyemi’s claim that he was legally appointed Director-General of the PFIPC, despite the Presidency maintaining that the council does not exist.
Adeyemi has alleged that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy and later demanded an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment, allegations the Presidency has strongly denied.
The Presidency has described Adeyemi as an impostor accused of forging appointment documents, impersonating a government official and fraudulently operating under a non-existent agency. Police have since filed an eight-count criminal charge against him and two others, with the case scheduled for hearing on July 27.
