Convener of ‘presidential promotion council’ rejects Gbaja’s disclaimer, seeks Tinubu’s probe
Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has challenged the presidency’s disclaimer distancing itself from the body, while calling on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the controversy.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Adeyemi questioned the June 11 statement by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, which said the PFIPC does not exist under the Tinubu administration.
“It has come to the notice of the Federal Government of Nigeria and specifically the Office of the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR that a certain Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, under the auspices of an alleged organisation styled as the ‘Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council’ is portraying himself to the general public as having been appointed by my office,” Gbajabiamila said.
“The unsuspecting public is hereby advised to note that such an office does not exist under this administration and no appointment has been made in that regard.”
The chief of staff also advised foreign missions, development organisations, financial institutions and the public to disregard claims linking his office to the body.
Adeyemi, however, argued that the disclaimer had raised questions about official records and government processes that should be independently investigated.
Adeyemi questioned how the PFIPC allegedly appeared in the 2026 appropriation budget if, as maintained by the presidency, the body does not exist.
“Let’s assume for one second that all what the chief of staff published were right, that the agency does not exist. Then how did the agency’s name get into the 2026 appropriation budget pages 50 and 51?” he queried.
He said the issue was “not about personalities” but about resolving what he described as contradictions in official government records.
“The issue is no longer about personalities. It is about contradictions that demand answers,” he said.
Adeyemi also questioned what he described as references to the council in other government processes, arguing that the issues warranted an independent inquiry.
Adeyemi called on Tinubu to constitute an independent investigative panel to examine the controversy.
He said the panel should review budgetary references and institutional records relating to the council, question relevant officials and publish its findings.
“The purpose is clarity: not denial versus counter-denial. If I am wrong, let an independent process prove it. If Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is right, let it confirm it,” he said.
He also appealed for investigations into the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as an intermediary, as well as alleged attempts on his life
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