By Taiwo Scholarstica
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an independent probe into the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council or resign.
The former Vice President made the call on Wednesday noting that the conflicting explanations from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria concerning the opening of accounts linked to the PFIPC had raised serious questions about the handling of the issue.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said Tinubu should either direct an independent investigation into the matter or accept responsibility for the controversy.
He said, “This is where the cover-up appears to begin. One institution denied authorising the opening of the PFIPC accounts and alleged forgery. Another, before the representatives of the Nigerian people, stated that the accounts were opened on the directive of the Accountant-General after due process was followed. Both accounts cannot be true.”
Atiku argued that the conflicting positions of the two government agencies had further weakened public confidence in the administration.
“When two of your most sensitive financial and monetary authorities publicly contradict each other on the same transaction, no serious leader needs a clairvoyant to know that his administration is trapped in a web of deception and a profound crisis of credibility.”
“The President cannot continue to watch from the sidelines while his government tears itself apart with conflicting narratives,” he said.
He called on Tinubu to state which of the two accounts his government accepted, while questioning why no decisive action had been taken.
“President Tinubu must answer a simple question: Which version does he believe, the Accountant-General’s or the Central Bank’s? If he believes neither, why has he not acted?” he asked.
The former vice president also criticised the silence of the Attorney-General of the Federation, saying it had increased concerns surrounding the controversy.
He urged the National Assembly to summon the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to appear together before its investigative committee and provide explanations for the conflicting accounts.
“The PFIPC scandal has ceased to be merely about disputed accounts. It has become a referendum on President Tinubu’s integrity and competence,” he said.
Atiku further called for an independent probe, arguing that the move would help restore confidence in the government.
“President Tinubu owes Nigerians an unreserved apology for presiding over this unprecedented collapse of public accountability. If he cannot immediately restore public confidence through a genuinely independent investigation and ensure that everyone responsible is held to account, then he has forfeited the moral authority to continue in office. The honourable course is simple: apologise to Nigerians and resign,” he said.
The controversy over the PFIPC followed differing accounts from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding the opening of bank accounts associated with the council.
The House of Representatives is currently investigating the matter.