Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, used Saturday’s 2026 Gbaja Mega Empowerment programme in Lagos to thank the president for refusing to rush a verdict on allegations that his office was linked to a fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). The president’s insistence on due process, Gbajabiamila said, allowed investigations by the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to run their course.
Gbajabiamila testified before the ICPC in July 2026 as part of the probe. The commission later reported that it found no evidence connecting him or his office to the purported PFIPC or to the alleged director‑general of the body. Both the police and the DSS also cleared him of any wrongdoing, and the investigative reports are now in the public domain.
“The past few months have tested me in ways I never expected. Stories were written, strange accusations were made, lies were told, and my integrity was questioned,” Gbajabiamila said, adding that the clearance by the three agencies restored his reputation.
He urged young Nigerians who aspire to public office not to be discouraged by the “high price” and sacrifices that can accompany political leadership. Gbajabiamila also warned that anyone using his name to defraud the public would face legal consequences, emphasizing that “no amount of money, no amount of blackmail or lies… will detract me from my work and the work Mr President has given me to do.”
The empowerment event, valued at roughly ₦1.15 billion, targeted about 5,000 beneficiaries in Surulere. Organisers postponed the programme from June to verify submissions from wards, trade associations and community groups. In total, 3,905 recipients received ₦250,000 each, while 348 individuals were given ₦500,000. The distribution also included 61 electric vehicles, 50 electric tricycles, 60 minibuses, 100 laptops, four Toyota HiAce 18‑seater buses, two security patrol vehicles, a medical ambulance and two additional vehicles.
Gbajabiamila highlighted that the inclusion of electric cars, tricycles and bikes was intended to promote cleaner transportation, expand e‑hailing opportunities, lower transport costs, improve air quality and generate employment.
Speaking at the same event, Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat said the All Progressives Congress remains committed to grassroots engagement, noting that the party’s strength stems from elected representatives maintaining close relationships with residents. “That is why our party is the party of the people,” he affirmed.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
