By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
When Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew declared that he paid the sum of N400 million for appointment as the Director-general of the government disowned Federal Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), many Nigerians believed him despite the government shenanigans. The sloppy way in which the government handled the matter and the apparent government silence on the alleged suspicious death of the proxy that conveyed the said bribe money to Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seem to fuel the suspicion of official cover-up. Before then, there have been rumors and insinuations about cash-for appointment deals orchestrated by the Aso Rock cabal and cash request by the National Assembly before senatorial screening of appointees.
This was similar to the disclosure made by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai earlier in the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The former Kaduna State governor had on March 14, 2025, in an interview on BBC Hausa program made the allegation that individuals paid money to be appointed as ministers under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In the said interview, El-Rufai had alluded that his failed screening clearance by the Senate for ministerial position in 2023 was because he did not pay for it as some others did.
Thus, when on Thursday October 22, 2026, in a live interview on Arise News Television’s Prime Time program, hosted by Charles Aniagolu, Alwan Hassan, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) spokesperson, revealed that the ministerial nominees treat public office like a commercial venture by paying heavy bribes to secure their positions and focusing on recovering their “investments” through government budgets and contracts very few Nigerians were surprised because his confession confirmed what is already public knowledge. Alwan Hassan made the allegation while attempting to defend Tinubu’s selfish hold over government expenditure, arguing that such grip over public funds prevents corrupt ministers from using their offices as business investments.
Indeed, nobody was surprised about the scandalous disclosure by the APC’s PCC spokesperson; it was like a confirmation of what the public already knew. The government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has established itself as a government of scandals. Scandals spring up like the weeds in the rainy season under Tinubu. When it is not about spending public funds without appropriation, it will be about borrowing for phantom projects or using tax-payers’ money for personal image laundry inter alia. So, despite the attempt by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka to do a clarification on the matter, the bean has been spilled already, the damage has been done and the backlash is inevitable.
The public and concerned Nigerians have spoken to condemn the APC’s cash-for-appointment practices. The main opposition groups have taken a swipe at the ruling APC. The different civil society groups like the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) have called on the government and the anti-graft agencies to institute a probe into the claims of cash-for-appointment as disclosed by Alwan Hassan.
Many have now come to see the action of Dr. Betta Edu the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation who was suspended and fired for authorizing the transfer of public funds into a private bank account as one undertaken to recoup monies paid to buy appointment. Betta Edu was suspended on January 8, 2024 following public outrage when a leaked official memo revealed that she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer the sum of N585.19 million of public funds, allocated as social grants for vulnerable groups across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, into the private bank account of the ministry’s project accountant, Bridget Oniyelu.
Generally, it is believed that Betta Edu was used as a scape goat for what is considered as regular practice of appointees in this administration just to assuage public outcry and to give an impression that the government is fighting corruption. Her case was referred to the EFCC for investigation and prosecution but nothing came out of it. Today, the same Batta Edu is appointed into the APC’s PCC campaigning for Tinubu.
It is a fact that from the beginning of this administration, many Nigerians have openly complained about the quality of those appointed to ministerial positions. Obviously, the regime has the worst set of ministerial appointees in the history of Nigeria not just because the appointments were lopsided or given as political compensations but because of the qualifications and the antecedents of those appointed. It is now clear that the recommendations, appointments and confirmations were done on cash-and-carry basis. And that explains one of the reasons behind the woeful performance of the current government. And this shows that the government is not bothered about results or performance but power.
Secondly, the cash-for-appointment revelation made by Alwan Hassan who is unarguably one of the APC bigwigs may give a strong indication that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi who is being tried for allegedly operating a fake agency may the speaking the truth after all when he alleged that he paid the sum of N400 million to get the appointment as the DG of the disowned PFIPC. Those who talk about evidence should know that bribe monies are usually not receipted. His only witness to the bribery case was killed in a mysterious fire incidence in a hotel in Utako, Abuja.
Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK.
Abuja Network News
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Opinion