Tinubu: I’ve Implicit Confidence in My Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila 

* Sets ground rules for conduct of FEC

* Council observes minute silence for Adamu Fika 

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu has expressed implicit confidence in his Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.

The president, who spoke on Monday shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja, also set the ground rules for the attendance of the meeting.

President Tinubu also commented on issues he had observed and had not been comfortable with, including unauthorized persons gaining access into the Council Chambers of the State House.

His words: “First of all, let me reiterate to all of you the fact that a lot of stories are going around about what is happening. I’ve told everyone in this country that I can make mistakes, they’re bound to hear them out and correct them. 

“Perfection is that of God Almighty. I have absolute confidence in the integrity of my Chief of Staff. All campaigns of calumny and insinuations should stop, the buck stops here.

“If I make a mistake, I’m ready to own up to it and we’re all joining hands to fight corruption and we want to enforce the law along with you.”

Meanwhile, the FEC observed a minute silence in honour of a former member of Council and one-time Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Adamu Fika, who died last week at the age of 90.

The council meeting is in progress with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr (Mrs) Folasade Yemi-Esan; Chief of Staff to the President, Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and almost all the ministers, in attendance.

Details later…