The Arewa Think Tank has thrown its weight behind the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, alleging that a sustained campaign of media attacks and unsubstantiated allegations against him is aimed at weakening President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and distracting it from delivering on its Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a strongly worded public statement issued at the weekend, the northern policy advocacy group urged President Tinubu not to succumb to what it described as coordinated blackmail and character assassination targeted at trusted members of his administration, insisting that competence, loyalty and integrity should remain the basis for appointments and public service.
The statement, signed by the Convener of the Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, argued that respected public officials and loyal supporters of the President were increasingly becoming targets of politically motivated campaigns designed to create unnecessary distractions within government.
According to the group, the latest target is Gbajabiamila, whom it described as a committed public servant working to support the President’s reform agenda.
The organisation recalled that similar public attacks had previously been directed at other prominent political figures, including Senator Abdulaziz Yari, warning that such recurring campaigns could ultimately discourage capable Nigerians from accepting public service appointments.
The think tank also referenced reports linking the Chief of Staff to a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), noting that the Presidency had publicly denied the existence of such a body within the structure of government and dismissed the claims circulating in parts of the media and on social media.
Addressing President Tinubu directly, the group urged him to remain focused on governance despite mounting political pressures.
“Do not allow orchestrated campaigns of blackmail and character assassination to deprive your administration of competent, experienced and loyal Nigerians,” the statement said.
It argued that reform-minded leaders often come under pressure to abandon trusted allies through coordinated misinformation and politically motivated narratives, urging the President to remain steadfast in pursuing his administration’s objectives.
The organisation further appealed to Nigerians to reject politics driven by speculation and smear campaigns, insisting that public debate should be anchored on facts, due process and respect for democratic institutions rather than unverified allegations.
According to the group, strengthening democracy requires protecting public institutions from misinformation and ensuring that allegations are subjected to lawful investigation instead of trial by media.
“As believers in democracy and the rule of law, we maintain that allegations should never replace evidence, and political propaganda should never replace due process,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its position, the Arewa Think Tank said it would continue to advocate truth, democratic values and good governance, stressing that Nigeria’s political future should be driven by ideas, performance and national development rather than sustained campaigns capable of undermining public confidence in institutions.
