The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a sharp rebuttal against opposition leaders demanding the removal of Presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila over the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, insisting they have no authority to dictate appointments in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Wike described the calls as politically motivated and urged the opposition to “form your own government and sack whoever you want.”
The political fallout from the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has deepened, with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike mounting a vigorous defence of Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila while taking aim at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures demanding his removal.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja, Wike dismissed the opposition’s calls as baseless, insisting that President Bola Tinubu alone has the constitutional authority to appoint or remove members of his administration.
Reacting to demands that Gbajabiamila be relieved of his position pending investigations into the PFIPC controversy, Wike said the opposition was attempting to exploit the scandal to embarrass the Tinubu administration.
According to the minister, there is no credible evidence linking the Chief of Staff to the alleged activities of the fake agency, adding that accusations alone cannot justify the removal of a senior government official.
He challenged critics to first win political power before deciding who should occupy public office.
“Form your government and sack whoever you want,” Wike declared while rejecting calls for Gbajabiamila’s dismissal.
The controversy began after the emergence of allegations surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an entity the Presidency has maintained is not a recognised government agency.
The scandal has triggered investigations by security and anti-corruption agencies, while opposition figures have demanded broader independent inquiries into how the alleged organisation operated and whether public officials were involved.
Gbajabiamila has consistently denied any connection to the alleged scheme and has initiated legal action against individuals who accused him of wrongdoing.
Wike maintained that investigations should be allowed to run their course without political interference, expressing confidence that the truth would eventually emerge.
He argued that senior presidential aides often become targets of politically motivated attacks because of their proximity to the President, insisting that allegations must be supported by credible evidence rather than speculation.
Wike’s intervention has intensified the political battle surrounding the PFIPC controversy, highlighting the growing tensions between the Tinubu administration and opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general election. As investigations continue, the dispute is expected to remain a major talking point in Nigeria’s political landscape.