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A coalition of more than 350 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has expressed strong support for the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, rejecting allegations levelled against him by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as unfounded and lacking credible evidence.
The coalition made its position known on Friday in Abuja following an emergency meeting convened to review the allegations. Speaking on behalf of the organisations, the group said it found no factual basis for the claims and accused Prince Matthew of attempting to damage the reputation of the President's Chief of Staff through what it described as false and misleading assertions.
The coalition's position was contained in a statement jointly signed by representatives of the participating organisations, including Amb. Philip Okwaggbe, Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (COCSO); Amadi Chindi of the Initiative for Community Development; Ejiroghene Akporume Ovie of the Poverty Alleviation for the Poor Initiative; Chiamaka Chukwuebuka of the Women Centre for Self-Empowerment and Development; Balarabe Muhammadu of the Leadership Centre for Peace Intercity and Transformation Initiative; Idongesit Edidiong Etop of the Youth Enhancement Development Organization; and Josiah Josephine Nanbam of the Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Economic Advancement, among others.
According to the coalition, its review revealed no evidence linking Gbajabiamila to the allegations made by Prince Matthew, whom it said falsely claimed to be the Director-General of a "Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council," an organisation it described as non-existent.
The coalition argued that the allegations were calculated to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the Chief of Staff.
It described Gbajabiamila as a distinguished statesman and accomplished legislator whose tenure as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives produced significant legislative reforms, including the restoration of Nigeria's January-to-December budget cycle and the passage of laws aimed at economic recovery and social protection.
The group also highlighted several legislative initiatives associated with the former Speaker, including the Students' Loan Bill, the Physically Challenged (Empowerment) Bill, the Criminalisation of Estimated Billing System Bill, the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill and the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill.
The coalition further commended Gbajabiamila's role during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that he championed legislative interventions and welfare measures designed to cushion the effects of the health crisis on Nigerians.
It also cited his participation in executive leadership programmes at Stanford University, the University of Cambridge and the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford as evidence of his commitment to quality leadership and public service.
Reaffirming its confidence in the Chief of Staff, the coalition insisted that Gbajabiamila could not have authorised the creation of any illegal or unconstitutional body, describing the allegations against him as entirely without merit.
The group called on relevant security agencies to investigate the matter and take appropriate legal action against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, arguing that making unsubstantiated allegations against public officials should not go unchecked.