Explosive Demand: Atiku Calls For President Tinubu's Resignation Amid PFIPC Controversy

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has issued a forceful demand for President Bola Tinubu to apologize to Nigerians and resign from office. This call comes amidst a escalating controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) accounts, which Atiku asserts has exposed a profound credibility crisis within the current administration.

The core of the issue lies in the conflicting accounts provided by two of Nigeria’s most crucial financial institutions: the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Atiku, through a statement released on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, highlighted that testimony presented by the CBN before the House of Representatives directly contradicted the OAGF’s earlier stance regarding the authorization and opening of the PFIPC accounts. This discrepancy, he argues, raises serious questions about accountability and transparency, suggesting that one of the institutions is intentionally misleading the public.

Atiku emphasized the gravity of the contradiction, stating, “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.” He further asserted that such a public disagreement between the country’s leading financial and monetary authorities indicates that the administration is “trapped in a web of deception” and suffering from a “profound crisis of credibility.” He criticized President Tinubu for seemingly observing from the sidelines while his government appears to be fracturing under conflicting narratives.

The former Vice President directly challenged President Tinubu to clarify his position, asking, “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?” Atiku stressed that any delay in ordering a truly independent investigation only deepens public suspicion, implying that the administration prioritizes its image over discovering the truth. He also extended his criticism to the Attorney-General of the Federation, whose continued silence, he argued, compounds the credibility crisis and fosters the perception that the administration is more concerned with political damage control than with uncovering facts.

To resolve the impasse, Atiku urged the National Assembly to take decisive action by summoning both the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He recommended that they appear together before an investigative committee under oath to reconcile their conflicting accounts. According to Atiku, the PFIPC scandal transcends mere questions about disputed financial records; it has evolved into a critical “referendum on President Tinubu’s integrity and competence.” He warned that if an alleged individual could orchestrate a scheme leading to such public contradictions between vital institutions, it raises concerns about potential widespread abuses due to weak oversight and institutional failures.

In conclusion, Atiku maintained that President Tinubu owes Nigerians an “unreserved apology for presiding over this unprecedented collapse of public accountability.” He firmly stated that if the President fails to immediately restore public confidence through a genuinely independent investigation and ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable, then he has forfeited the moral authority to remain in office. Atiku’s ultimate recommendation for Tinubu is clear: “The honourable course is simple: apologise to Nigerians and resign.” The controversy continues to draw significant public attention, underscoring the serious implications of the conflicting claims from the OAGF and the CBN regarding the PFIPC accounts.