• warns family members, others to steer clear of FEC meetings
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared he has absolute confidence in the integrity of his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Tinubu stated this before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This comes 48 hours after it was reported that his CoS might be dealing with a crisis of integrity due to claims that he has been “trading off appointments in the government of President Tinubu to the highest bidder.”
According to the source, supporters of Tinubu are becoming more and more incensed, demanding that the “Gbajabiamila be eased out of the Presidential Villa.”
Citing the appointment of 10 Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the report quoted sources who claimed that the name of Ekiti REC was replaced with the name of a former commissioner under the immediate past Governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi.
Another added that “the President’s Private Principal Secretary Akeem Okunola, was already doing some of his (Gbajabiamila’s) work…the President was already putting up a team that will help the CoS,” the report said.
But responding to the allegations, President Tinubu affirmed that “I have absolute confidence in my Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
“So, all campaign of calumny, the buck stops here! If I make mistakes, I’ll own up to them and correct them. Perfection is of God Almighty.”
“If I make 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”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Council gave a minute of silence for a former member of FEC and one-time Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Adamu Fika, who died last week at the age of 90 years.
The President went on to address other concerns he had seen and felt uneasy about, such as people entering the State House’s Council Chambers without authorization.
Addressing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and the Head of Civil Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, he said, “Last week, I noticed the undue access of people sneaking in and out of this Council. I will announce to you those people who are supposed to be here.
The President mentioned his Special Advisers on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Usman; Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola and Private Secretary, Damilotun Aderemi.
“Those are people who are granted exception to be here when we’re conducting the business of the nation. Unless I sent for you, don’t come, make it clear. Secretary to the Government and Head of Service, please take note.
“Unless your staff that are included, no one is privileged to have access sitting in this (Council Chambers), except those four that I’ve announced to you”, the President warned.
Also, President Tinubu issued a stern warning to those government officials and family members who attend the Federal Executive Council, (FEC), meeting without invitation.
He said: “Last week, I noticed people sneaking in and out of this council. People had access to this place when they should not. That is not acceptable.
“I will announce to you here, people who are supposed to be here.
“Hadiza Usman, Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Principal Private Secretary and Damilotun Aderemi, Private Secretary.
“These are the people who are granted the exception to be here when we are conducting the business of the nation. Unless I sent for you, don’t come.”
The president directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, HCSF, Folashade Yemi-Esan, to take note of his directive.
Also, President Tinubu rated the bilateral and business meetings held on Sunday with visiting German government and business officials, led by the Chancellor of the Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, very highly.
He thanked his ministers for availing themselves at the meeting, charging them to think outside the box to hasten the reforms required to attract investors.
“Yesterday, we had a very good showing and I thank all of you for sparing your Sunday to attend the national event. The visit of the Chancellor of the Republic of Germany was, to me, a success.
“We needed more time, but we were able to cover a lot of ground and must take our reforms seriously; the investors are interested in us…As I said, investors and investment are cowardly; they don’t follow conflicts. Think outside the box, how we can do things better,” Tinubu said.
Also, the Council, led by the SGF, toasted to President Tinubu’s recent victory at the Supreme Court, lauding his contributions to leadership in the country, particularly highlighting his time as governor of Lagos State.