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A coalition of more than 350 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has thrown its weight behind the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, dismissing allegations made against him by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as baseless and unsupported by credible evidence.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday after what it described as an emergency meeting, the coalition said it convened the briefing to “set the records straight” over allegations made by Prince Matthew, who it claimed presented himself as the Director-General of a “non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council.”
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; Josiah Josephine Nanbam of the Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Economic Advancement, among several others.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the signatories said they had critically reviewed the allegations and found no evidence to support the claims against the President’s Chief of Staff.
“We have carefully examined the claims and allegations of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and have seen that he is not saying the truth but wants to intentionally tarnish the image of the Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, without substantive evidence to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt,” the coalition said.
The group maintained that the allegations were designed to whip up public sentiment and damage the reputation of the Chief of Staff.
“We want to state categorically that these claims and allegations by Matthew are baseless. Despite calling sections of the media to brief them and claiming he was being intimidated, such emotions cannot help him because we know he is trying to whip up sentiments to drag the Chief of Staff into the mud with him, and we will not allow that to happen,” it stated.
The coalition highlighted Gbajabiamila’s track record in public service, describing him as a globally respected parliamentarian whose tenure as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives was marked by landmark legislative achievements.
According to the group, these included the restoration of Nigeria’s January-to-December budget cycle, the passage of key economic reform legislation, and initiatives that strengthened support for persons with disabilities, students and other vulnerable Nigerians.
It also listed several bills sponsored by 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 leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that he championed legislative interventions, social protection measures and welfare initiatives aimed at cushioning the impact of the health crisis on Nigerians.
It also pointed to his professional development through executive education programmes at Stanford University, the University of Cambridge and the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford, saying these reflected his commitment to leadership and good governance.
Reaffirming its confidence in the Chief of Staff, the coalition argued that Gbajabiamila could not have authorised the establishment of any illegal or unconstitutional body.
“We unequivocally state that the Chief of Staff cannot be unpatriotic to give a go-ahead to establish a non-existent establishment, which is illegal and unconstitutional.
“Therefore, the lies against him are not to be taken seriously,” the coalition declared.
The coalition also urged relevant security agencies to investigate the matter and take appropriate legal action.
“We therefore call for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew because this matter is not to be handled with kid gloves, as the international community is watching Nigeria,” the group added.
