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In a surprising turn of events, the recent appointment of Michael Achimugu, a former aide to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and self-proclaimed whistleblower, has ignited criticism from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party. Achimugu has been named as the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, as revealed in the list of 46 new directors announced by Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, on Thursday.
Achimugu gained prominence during the 2023 presidential election campaign when he accused his former boss of embezzling public funds through 'Special Purpose Vehicles' (SPV). These accusations were made within the context of Achimugu's role as a whistleblower, claiming to have evidence of financial misconduct involving the former Vice President.
The controversy reached a peak on January 16, when the now-dissolved Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council conducted a world press conference in Abuja, calling for the apprehension of the former Vice President based on the allegations made by Achimugu.
Despite the intense accusations and counter-accusations, seven months into President Bola Tinubu's administration, Achimugu has secured a significant position. This move has drawn strong condemnation from the Peoples Democratic Party, with the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, expressing shock. Abdullahi alleges that the appointment reflects the ruling All Progressives Congress's (APC) disregard for integrity and the concerns of the Nigerian people.
In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online, Abdullahi stated, "It is good that Nigerians are seeing the level of desperation in the APC. In our position as the opposition party, the PDP condemns it in totality. We have articulated in our manifesto long in the build-up to the election campaign that anything to do with Bola Tinubu and the APC is taking Nigeria to the Stone Age."
This controversial appointment has intensified the ongoing political discourse and raised questions about the government's commitment to transparency and accountability.
