The Arewa Youth Integrity Forum (AYIF) has publicly challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following his request for President Bola Tinubu to suspend Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila. Atiku’s media team previously urged the suspension and an independent investigation into allegations that Gbajabiamila was linked to a N400 billion bribery scandal.
Led by National President Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, the AYIF dismissed Atiku’s involvement as a display of political desperation and hypocrisy ahead of the 2027 elections. The group argued that Atiku lacks the moral authority to scrutinize others, characterizing his stance as a distraction from his own controversial political history.
The youth forum highlighted several past allegations against Atiku, including a Senate investigation into the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) that suggested he diverted $145 million. The group further noted that Atiku was previously barred from entering the United States amid corruption investigations and faced accusations regarding the William Jefferson bribery scandal. Additionally, the AYIF referenced claims from a former aide regarding the use of Special Purpose Vehicles to misappropriate public funds.
While the AYIF acknowledged that the allegations against Gbajabiamila warrant attention, they insisted that Atiku is an inappropriate messenger for anti-corruption advocacy. They concluded by suggesting that the former Vice President should step away from public controversy rather than attempting to hold serving officials to standards he allegedly failed to meet during his time in office.
