Tinubu defends Gbajabiamila, vows to fight corruption.

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, declared “absolute confidence” in the integrity of his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, adding that “we’re all joining hands to fight corruption.”

Tinubu said this just before the commencement of this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

His comments came just 48 hours after a report emerged that the CoS may be battling an integrity crisis following allegations that he had been “trading off appointments in the government of President Tinubu to the highest bidder.”

The report alleged a growing outcry among Tinubu’s loyalists, who are insisting that “Gbajabiamila is eased out of the Presidential Villa

Citing the appointment of 10 Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the report quoted sources who claimed that the name of Ekiti REC was replaced with the name of a former commissioner under the immediate-past Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.

“Another source noted that President’s Private Principal Secretary, Hakeem Okunola, was already doing some of his (Gbajabiamila’s) work…the President was already putting up a team that will help the CoS,” the report said.

But responding to the allegations on Monday, Tinubu remarked, “First of all, let me reiterate to all of you the fact that a lot of stories are going around about what is happening.

"I’ve told everyone in this country that I can make mistakes; they’re bound to air them out and correct them. Perfection is that of God Almighty.

“I have absolute confidence in the integrity of my Chief of Staff. All campaigns of calumny and insinuations should stop; the buck stops here. If I make a mistake, I’m ready to own up to it and we’re all joining hands to  fight corruption and we want to enforce the law along with you.”

Meanwhile, the President emphasised that FEC meetings were sensitive gatherings, barring unauthorised persons from gaining access to the Council Chambers.

To the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Head of Civil Service, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, he said, “Last week, I noticed the undue access of people sneaking in and out of this Council. I will announce to you those people who are supposed to be here.”