The President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has written a letter of complaint to the State Security (SSS) over what he called “false accusations and sustained campaign of slander” against him.
The letter, addressed to the Director General of the SSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, which was seen by our PREMIUM TIMES, indicated that other security agencies may also have been instructed to launch investigations.
Gbajabiamila served in the House of Representatives for more than 20 years, during which he was Minority Whip, Minority Leader (for eight years) and Majority Leader before becoming Speaker in 2019. He was appointed Chief of Staff to the House of Representatives. President Bola Tinubu days after the President took office on May 29, 2023.
In his letter to the SSS, the chief of staff lamented a sustained regime of smear campaigns against him. Therefore, he asked the security agency to investigate and uncover those who spread falsehoods about him.
The letter was titled “Request for investigation of false accusations and sustained campaign of slander against me by unknown elements.”
In the letter dated January 9, 2023, Gbajabiamila said: “Over the past six months, unknown individuals or groups have made a sustained effort using social media to spread unfounded accusations of corruption, misconduct and abuse of power against me. . This smear campaign has become increasingly aggressive in tone and content over the last month, which is why this letter is necessary.
“I have served in the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the past two decades, first in the legislature where I rose to the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives and now in the executive as Chief of Staff to the President. . During that time, my efforts to ensure probity in the management of public resources are well documented. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I flawlessly presided over the national budget of all ministries, departments and agencies for four years.
“While I am inclined to ignore these attacks as part of the usual shenanigans of politics, my position as the President’s Chief of Staff compels me to act because unchallenged falsehoods soon take on the cloak of truth. Furthermore, the aggressive escalation of these attacks suggests that their perpetrators will continue until they are held accountable. For these reasons, the stoic silence that I have maintained until now on this matter will no longer be sufficient.
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“I am satisfied that I have not acted in any way to justify these attacks. Therefore, I request your office to investigate the sources and background of these false accusations. Instead of hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet, let my accusers be unmasked to substantiate their claims or face the consequences of their defamation against me.”
The president’s chief of staff, therefore, requested “prompt intervention” by security agencies in the matter.
The letter stated that “a selection of some of the most heinous attacks of recent months” was attached to assist security agencies in their investigations.