Can We Just Let Femi Gbajabiamila Be?

It is quite doubtful that Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, would court controversy but strangely how rhubarbs have literally dogged his steps and actions. This awful experience began soon after he resigned from the Green Chamber last year and assumed his current position.

This dark chapter in his memoirs appears to be gaining attention in the public domain, thereby giving the impression that the former speaker himself is controversial.

Since he was appointed Chief of Staff, he has been involved in several controversies. But more worrisome is the fact that on each occasion he comes out to defend himself, the controversy keeps coming in torrents at different times and versions.

It would be recalled that shortly after his appointment as Chief of Staff to the President, the former lawmaker was accused of using his position to obtain money from people who wanted to visit Mr. President. It was also alleged that he received the sum of N500 million from businessman and oil mogul, Jack Rich, who lobbied for a ministerial position under Tinubu’s administration. But all these were denied.

When many thought the controversy had simmered down and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives was getting down to his new job, another imbroglio reared its ugly head. This time around, he was accused of receiving the sum of N10 billion to renovate his official house inside Aso Rock Villa. As expected, he came out to debunk the story.

Just when this was in circulation, he was confronted with another battle from the home front as he was accused of imposition of a candidate. His political foes alleged that he imposed Fuad Kayode Laguda on them as the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Surulere 1 House of Representatives by-election (Laguda won the February 3 election).

To clear his name of what he termed as a smear campaign against his person, the politician, in January, wrote a strongly-worded petition to the Department of State Services (DSS) to demand a probe of the alleged campaign of calumny against him.

Gbajabiamila requested the DSS to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of falsehoods against him.

However, he has again stirred the hornet’s nest with his call for the regulation of social media. His call has set tongues wagging, as Gbajabiamila alongside his principal, Tinubu was accused of an attempt to gag opponents from criticising their administration. 

Though it is inexplicable if the politician loves controversy or not, it is bad enough that it has almost become a blot on his profile.

His loyalists were, however, quick to come to his defence, claiming it was all an attempt to rubbish and discolour his hard-earned political career, most especially his 2027 governorship ambition.