Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress, stated on Wednesday that President Bola Tinubu is caught in a web of his own making regarding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) controversy. Atiku argues that the conflicting testimonies from the Office of the Accountant-General and the Central Bank of Nigeria demonstrate a severe lack of internal coordination and transparency.
Through his aide Phrank Shaibu, Atiku highlighted the stark contrast between the two agencies’ accounts before the House of Representatives. While one agency claims the PFIPC accounts were legitimate, the other alleges forgery, leading Atiku to label the situation a historic credibility crisis. He contends that the President’s silence on the matter is unacceptable.
Atiku challenged President Tinubu to declare which agency he trusts and to launch an independent investigation immediately. He further criticized the Attorney-General for failing to intervene, suggesting that the government is more focused on political optics than the truth. To resolve the impasse, Atiku urged the National Assembly to summon both the Accountant-General and the Central Bank Governor to testify simultaneously under oath.
Ultimately, Atiku described the PFIPC scandal as a test of the President’s competence and moral integrity. He concluded that unless Tinubu can restore public trust through full accountability, the most honorable step is to issue a formal apology to the citizens of Nigeria and vacate his office.
