Post by Stephen Onuh Uwodi (@Enefuojo)
TINUBU PRESIDENCY MUST STOP RUNNING AWAY FROM QUESTIONS NIGERIANS DESERVE ANSWERED
The allegations surrounding the Tinubu administration's appointment process have raised profound questions about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of governance. While allegations are not proof of wrongdoing, they cannot simply be dismissed with blanket denials when they involve matters of immense public interest and public funds.
According to Prince Adeyemi, he allegedly paid ₦600 million to secure appointment as the head of a federal agency—₦400 million upfront, with an additional ₦200 million expected later. Even more disturbing is his claim that he came under pressure to surrender 48 percent of a ₦24 billion take-off grant intended for the agency.
These are serious allegations that, if false, amount to a reckless attempt to smear the Presidency. But if true, they point to a deeply entrenched system of corruption operating at the highest levels of government. Either scenario demands an independent and transparent investigation.
What makes this controversy even more troubling is the apparent contradiction emerging from the Presidency itself. The Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, reportedly denied any connection to the agency and questioned its very existence. Yet the accuser insists that the agency exists, has a budgetary allocation in the Appropriation Act, possesses approved staffing, and maintains accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
These conflicting claims raise unavoidable questions.
If the agency does not exist, how did it allegedly receive a budgetary allocation? Who processed the approvals? Who authorized staff recruitment? Who opened and managed the accounts? If, on the other hand, the agency does exist, why is there a denial of its existence?
These are not partisan questions. They are questions every Nigerian taxpayer has the right to ask.
The Tinubu administration came into office promising a renewed commitment to accountability and good governance. Those promises cannot coexist with secrecy, contradictions, or selective disclosure. Public confidence is built through evidence, not press statements.
The Presidency should therefore welcome an open investigation rather than attempt to reduce the matter to a battle of narratives. Nigerians deserve to see the appointment documents, budgetary records, payroll approvals, relevant CBN documentation, and any evidence relating to the alleged payments. Facts—not rhetoric—must determine where the truth lies.
This controversy transcends politics. It is about whether public institutions are functioning with integrity or being manipulated behind closed doors. Silence, evasiveness, or contradictory explanations will only deepen public suspicion.
If the allegations are false, the accuser should be held fully accountable under the law for making such grave accusations. But if any aspect of the allegations is substantiated, then Nigerians would be confronting one of the most serious corruption scandals in recent history.
The Tinubu administration cannot expect citizens to accept denials without evidence while equally expecting them to trust institutions that appear unwilling to submit themselves to public scrutiny.
In a constitutional democracy, no government earns credibility by demanding blind trust. Credibility is earned through openness, accountability, and a willingness to answer legitimate questions. Nigerians deserve nothing less.
0 likes · 0 comments · 0 shares