Democratic Initiative Network Defends Chief of Staff Amid Political Attacks
The Democratic Initiative Network (DIN) has voiced strong criticism against calls for the removal of Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila. The organization contends that the campaign against him is driven by political motivations and fueled by misinformation.
Accusations Against Political Opponents
At a press conference on Friday, DIN’s communications director, Dr. Edwin Osuagu, accused critics—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—of attempting to unjustly link Gbajabiamila to issues he has no connection with. “The Democratic Initiative Network observes with deep concern the continued smear and misinformation campaign targeting President Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff, and strongly condemns these unwarranted attacks,” Osuagu stated.
Legal Matters Under Investigation
Osuagu pointed out that Atiku’s recent request for Gbajabiamila’s removal fails to acknowledge that the matter mentioned is currently under investigation, having been before the courts since last year. He emphasized that the Chief of Staff had no involvement in the deregistration of any political party and called on the former vice president to pursue appropriate legal channels to resolve any grievances.
Unfounded Allegations
Furthermore, DIN claims that Atiku’s remarks may have been influenced by ongoing legal proceedings involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The organization characterized efforts to associate Gbajabiamila with the situation as unfounded and baseless. Additionally, they alleged that certain members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are trying to attribute the party’s recent setbacks in internal elections to the Chief of Staff.
Clarifying Gbajabiamila’s Role
According to Osuagu, Gbajabiamila’s role in the APC National Assembly leadership election was primarily supervisory and ceremonial, while the party leadership made all candidate decisions. He further asserted that the Office of the Chief of Staff was not implicated in any of the circulating allegations, clarifying that it is actually responsible for referring such matters to the appropriate security agencies for investigation.
Call for Restraint in Political Discourse
DIN has urged politicians and the public to exercise restraint and allow law enforcement and judicial entities to conclude their investigations without inflaming public discourse with politically charged statements. “Nigeria’s democracy must be guided by facts, due process, and the rule of law, not rumors, fake documents, or politically motivated narratives,” he urged.
Recognition of Gbajabiamila’s Achievements
The organization also took the opportunity to commend Gbajabiamila’s significant contributions to public service, stating that his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives is among the most impactful in Nigeria’s democratic history. It highlighted his role in empowering numerous Nigerians through leadership development and public service initiatives.
Support for the Chief of Staff
DIN reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Gbajabiamila and vowed to resist any attempts to undermine his reputation through misinformation. They insisted, “We will not silently allow people with negative motives to tarnish his hard-earned image with baseless allegations.” Additionally, the group called upon security agencies to prosecute those found guilty of actions constituting criminal defamation or disruption of public peace in accordance with the law, expressing confidence in Gbajabiamila’s integrity and record as a dedicated public servant.
