ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to apologise to Nigerians and resign over the controversy surrounding the accounts of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), arguing that conflicting accounts from key government institutions have raised serious questions about public accountability.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the differing testimonies presented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) had created what he described as a major credibility challenge for the Tinubu administration.
The former vice president maintained that the conflicting explanations over the handling of the PFIPC accounts had undermined public confidence and warranted an independent investigation.
According to Atiku, President Tinubu should offer an unreserved apology to Nigerians and ensure that those responsible for any wrongdoing are held accountable.
He argued that if the president failed to restore confidence through a transparent and independent probe, he would have lost the moral authority to remain in office.
Atiku also expressed concern over what he described as contradictory narratives emerging from two of the country’s most important financial institutions.
He said the president could not remain silent while government agencies offered conflicting explanations on the same financial matter.
The former presidential candidate questioned which of the accounts the president believed, adding that continued silence could deepen public suspicion about the administration’s commitment to transparency.
He further criticised the Attorney-General of the Federation for not publicly addressing the issue, saying the absence of an official legal position had added to concerns surrounding the controversy.
Atiku called on the National Assembly to summon both the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to appear jointly before its investigative committee under oath.
He said such a hearing would allow Nigerians to receive a clear and authoritative explanation regarding the disputed transactions linked to the PFIPC accounts.
According to him, the controversy has evolved beyond disagreements over financial records and has become a broader test of transparency, accountability and institutional integrity within the federal government.
The former vice president argued that the allegations and conflicting accounts have raised wider concerns about oversight mechanisms and the management of public finances.
As of the time of reporting, the Presidency has not issued an official response to Atiku’s latest remarks.
The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have also not released any further statements addressing the issues raised following their respective testimonies.
The controversy is expected to remain under public and legislative scrutiny as lawmakers continue examining the management of the PFIPC accounts and the differing explanations provided by the relevant government institutions.
