The Civic Centre on Policy and Strategic Engagement has called on Nigerians to disregard the circulation of mischievous news on the constitution of boards of government parastatals and agencies targeted against the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The organisation said fake news, which is at best, a distractive plot by some paid agents to heat the polity unnecessarily with the ultimate aim of causing an imaginary rift in the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Executive Director of the organisation, Peter Enyigwe, said as concerned stakeholders, they have keenly followed the present administration’s efforts to address the country’s myriad of socio-economic challenges.
“This much we are aware of after extensive consultations and advocacy with key stakeholders in the country.
“As such, we are aware of the level of commitment of the Chief of Staff to Mr. President in carrying out his duties, which is a result of his experiences in governance and administration and his capacity to stay focused.
“It remains a figment of imagination to assume that Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila would throw caution to the wind by acting against the interest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the administration settles down for the task ahead.
“Those behind the distractive news items are disgruntled, possibly by the tough stance of the Chief of Staff on doing the right thing to their detriment and the benefit of Nigerians.
“President Bola Tinubu is not a stranger to governance and has definitely identified the selfless attributes of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamilla and his loyalty before he was appointed Chief of Staff.
“The Civic Centre on Policy and Strategic Engagement advises Nigerians to be circumspect in our public conduct and desist from promoting and peddling falsehoods to score cheap political points. The narration is, at best uncharitable and aimed to paint the President Bola Tinubu administration in a bad light.
“We urge the unsuspecting general public to disregard the fake news as the Chief of Staff is a man of high standards and unequivocal commitment and loyalty to his principal, President Bola Tinubu.
“As a former high-ranking member of the National Assembly and fourth in the leadership hierarchy of the county at the time, Gbajabiamila is a selfless Nigerian that understands leadership.
“The members of the general public may disregard the fake news about him and lend their support to the Bola Tinubu administration in the efforts at setting Nigeria on the path of progress.
“We urge the Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to stay focused and carry out his duties in his traditional manner of loyalty, transparency, and accountability,” he stated.