The Arewa Youth Integrity Forum (AYIF) has described Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as a man of integrity whose record pales in comparison to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s long trail of corruption controversies.
Led by National President Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, the group slammed Atiku’s blatant hypocrisy and political desperation ahead of 2027, exposing the former Vice President as unfit to point accusing fingers at anyone.
The forum’s reaction comes after Atiku, through his media team, demanded Gbajabiamila’s suspension and an independent probe into claims that the former Speaker of the House of Representatives demanded N400 million in bribes.
“Gbajabiamila is a saint compared to the mountain of corruption cases that define Atiku Abubakar’s public life. While we support thorough investigation into any allegation, Atiku lacks the moral standing to lecture anyone on integrity,” said Alhaji Aliyu.
“His call is nothing but political mischief aimed at distracting Nigerians from his own tainted history. The Arewa Youth Integrity Forum will not sit idly by while a serial controversy magnet pretends to be a crusader,” he added.
In a statement, the AYIF highlighted Gbajabiamila’s contributions to legislative reforms and executive efficiency, arguing that his service has been marked by dedication rather than the self-enrichment schemes often linked to Atiku.
The group noted that unproven allegations against sitting officials should not be weaponized by opposition figures with far more damaging records.
They pointed to Atiku’s tenure as Vice President (1999-2007), during which he faced multiple graft accusations, including a Senate probe that recommended his prosecution for allegedly diverting over $145 million from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to companies linked to him.
The youth forum described Atiku’s latest intervention as selective outrage, especially given his history of alleged involvement in high-profile international scandals.
AYIF called on the former VP to first address the many questions surrounding his own wealth accumulation while in public office.
“Atiku was banned from entering the United States for years due to corruption concerns. Reports detailed how over $40 million in suspect funds, including bribe payments from Siemens, were allegedly moved through accounts linked to him and his wife,” Aliyu stated.
“How does a man with such baggage have the audacity to call for the suspension of a serving official? This is the height of hypocrisy.
“Nigerians remember the William Jefferson bribery scandal where Atiku was implicated as the target of a $100,000 bribe attempt to influence Nigerian contracts,” he continued.
The AYIF further accused Atiku of recycling old tactics of deflection. The group emphasised that while the allegations deserve scrutiny, they should not overshadow the broader context of Atiku’s repeated brushes with anti-corruption agencies and international investigators.
The forum recalled audio recordings released by a former aide alleging Atiku’s use of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to siphon public funds, including N100 million from ecological funds, further tarnishing his image.
AYIF warned that Atiku’s pattern of controversies, from PTDF fund diversions to offshore money laundering allegations, makes him unfit to dictate standards of governance.
The group praised President Tinubu’s administration for focusing on reforms despite opposition noise.
They noted that Gbajabiamila stands as an unblemished man who has served with distinction with no record of wrongdoing or personal scandal trailing him anywhere in his public career, adding that he represents the kind of clean leadership Nigeria desperately needs.
“Atiku’s public record is littered with allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement, and conflict of interest. From NICOTES/INTELS business dealings while in customs service to the litany of Senate indictments, his history speaks volumes,” Aliyu remarked.
“Gbajabiamila has served with distinction in the National Assembly and now in the executive. Comparing him to Atiku is like comparing light to darkness.
“The former VP should retire from this endless cycle of scandals and allow credible leaders to move Nigeria forward.”
The Arewa Youth Integrity Forum reaffirmed its commitment to supporting good governance and holding all public officials accountable without fear or favor.
They called on Atiku to submit himself to the same level of scrutiny he demands of others, particularly regarding past U.S. visa bans linked to graft and money laundering probes.