Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Presidency of failing to adequately address the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the episode as evidence of institutional failure.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency’s response to the controversy, through presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, amounted to “a public confession of institutional collapse” rather than a defence of the government.
According to the former Vice President, the government’s attempt at damage control had instead raised further questions about the integrity of public institutions.
Atiku said the controversy exposed institutions weakened by years of negligence, incompetence and impunity, comparing the situation to termites eating away at the foundation of a tree until it collapses under pressure.
He argued that whether the alleged activities involving the PFIPC resulted from fraud facilitated by insiders or a broader failure of governance, the responsibility ultimately rests with the government.
“A government that cannot protect the integrity of its own budget cannot be trusted with the destiny of over 200 million Nigerians,” Atiku said.
While acknowledging that Prince Adeyemi, who has been linked to the controversy, may face legal proceedings if found culpable, Atiku maintained that the Presidency must also explain the institutional lapses that allegedly made the situation possible.
The former Vice President called for a fully independent investigation into the matter, insisting that the probe should follow the evidence wherever it leads without political interference or selective justice.
He added that the PFIPC controversy had become “a metaphor” for the Tinubu administration and urged Nigerians to reject what he described as a government plagued by incompetence and institutional decay.
