Campaign of Calumny: Northern Group Supports Gbajabiamila’s Call for Probe 

A group of northern elite working for the unity and progress of Nigeria, Northern Unity Forum, has thrown its weight behind the call by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, asking the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the continued smeared attacks on his person.

Gbajabiamila has come under intense and growing attacks on the social media by some “elements” since his appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Gbajabiamila had, in a letter, asked the DSS to investigate and prosecute those behind the “false allegations and sustained campaign of calumny” against him.

Rising from a two-day retreat in Kaduna Wednesday, the group, led by its National President, Ambassador Usman Biu, said the Chief of Staff had done the noblest thing by choosing to explore the civil and legal way of seeking protection, rather than devising self help mechanism.

The group said the north was happy with how the Chief of Staff has conducted himself around the presidency so far, offering quality service to President Tinubu.

According to the forum, “The success of every administration depends on the productivity of the Chief of Staff who is the head of all supporting staff and behind every government that is performing well, there is a man who keeps sleepless nights working round the clock to ensure the head of the government does not fail.”

The forum therefore gave a passmark on the activities of the Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila, saying he has so far conducted himself well in his given assignments, with utmost integrity.

The northern group also believed that the working relationship between Gbajabiamila and other appointees of President Tinubu, is cordial, giving the president a peaceful platform to operate.

The Forum described the Chief of Staff as a man who sees every Nigerian, irrespective of tribe or religion, as one, hence, his peaceful and inclusive conduct with those around the president.

“This, no doubt, has greatly provided the president with peaceful atmosphere to operate. Unlike in the past administration where the president would be busy trying to settle cold wars between his Chief of Staff and other top government officials, thereby missing out on many actions of national importance,” the forum added.

It said Gbajabiamila is a man known for high sense of integrity, owing to how he was able to stabilize the House of Representatives for four years, adding that Nigerians are happy that he has not compromised his integrity, even in working with the president.

“You see, this is a man that has spent over 20 years serving as a legislator. He has served as Minority Whip, Minority Leader for eight good years, Majority Leader and eventually, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. If his integrity was in question, the people of Surulere Federal Constituency would not have voted him to the House, back to back; and his colleagues would not have entrusted him with so much leadership of portfolios at the green chamber,” it added.

The Forum also hailed the president for not giving in to the antics of those it described as “enemies within” and “external forces”, trying to distract the government that was already done selecting its gears and on the verge of delivering good governance to the people of Nigeria.

As part of its communiqué, the Forum affirmed its support for the Tinubu-led administration, while also congratulating the northern governors who won their electoral cases at the Supreme Court recently.

The Forum called on the governors to convoke a peace and security summit with relevant stakeholders in attendance, to address the issues of insecurity and communal crisis across the north.