President Bola Ahmed’s move to shield his Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, from the allegations surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has ridiculed the Tinubu administration to even greater suspicion.
Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, made this known in a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.
According to Atiku, the scandal involving the self-acclaimed Director-General of the “supposed non-existent” Council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, was yet to settle, saying “fresh revelations from the 2026 Appropriation Act have exposed a disturbing pattern of budgetary manipulations and the deliberate concealment of questionable projects in obscure agencies for the apparent purpose of diverting public funds”.
Citig page 2236 of the Appropriation Act, 2026, under the budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education – an agency established to address the national emergency of millions of out-of-school children – Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of padding billions of naira for road construction projects that have absolutely nothing to do with the Commission’s statutory mandate.
The budget appropriated about ₦1.4 billion for the rehabilitation and construction of the Obasanjo-Itele Road, Nazareth Road Oke Ola, Imeko, Idogo Township Road and the construction of Odedeyo-Mewuro Road.
He said “another ₦1.4 billion was budgeted for a road from Eyini High School to Lusada Junction Road, Ibooro, Idiya Central Community Road, Roundabout Abeokuta, Ile Ise Community Asuje Road and Soyote Community Road in Abeokuta.
“Yet another ₦1.05 billion was set aside for Pakuj-Yporan Township Road in Ipokia Ward 2, while an additional ₦1.05 billion was allocated for RCC Opposite Honda Agbebi Community Road and Ajuwon Baale Road.”
“The question that naturally arises is this: Since when did the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education become a road construction agency?
“At a time when over 20 million Nigerian children remain outside the classroom, when schools are collapsing under the weight of neglect and when the Almajiri crisis continues to threaten the future of an entire generation, the decision to convert an education commission into a contractor for road projects represents not merely a distortion of priorities but a cruel betrayal of the very children the Commission was created to serve.
“The unavoidable conclusion is that the administration’s henchmen have once again resorted to the now familiar tactic of hiding questionable projects in backwater agencies where public scrutiny is minimal and where funds can be more easily diverted.
“This is the height of irresponsibility. It is the height of impunity. Indeed, it is the height of evil. Unfortunately, this is not the first time such dubious practices have emerged under the APC administration.”
The former vice president recalled that in the 2023 budget, funds meant for the Federal College of Education, Umunze, Anambra State, were allegedly diverted to finance constituency projects in Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State on behalf of Gbajabiamila, who was then Speaker of the House of Representatives, while the institution itself was denied the much-needed capital funding.
Atiku said “the latest revelations, therefore, cannot be dismissed as an isolated incident or a mere administrative error. They fit into an already discernible pattern of budget padding, insertions and diversions that have become a defining feature of governance under this administration.
“Equally troubling are the allegations made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims that Mr. Gbajabiamila demanded billions of naira, including an alleged upfront payment of ₦400 million and nearly half of the agency’s proposed ₦27.4 billion take-off grant, amounting to an alleged demand of ₦12.5 billion, as a condition for securing his position as Director-General of the PFIPC.
“The Presidency cannot simply wave away these allegations with press statements and political sophistry when the evidence increasingly points to a disturbing culture of impunity.
“If Prince Adeyemi is indeed the fraudster that government spokespersons now portray him to be, why has he not been arraigned before a competent court of law since he was first invited for questioning late last year? Why is the organisation he runs reportedly still operating from the Federal Secretariat? How was he able to pay a courtesy visit to the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission while supposedly under investigation?
“These are legitimate questions that deserve answers. Indeed, this scandal is assuming proportions even more troubling than the Abdulrasheed Maina affair. In the Maina case, law enforcement agencies acted swiftly. Investigations were launched, arrests were made and prosecutions followed. Since this latest scandal erupted, however, the Tinubu administration has done little beyond issuing denials and unleashing its propaganda machinery.”
