Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has described the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)—an agency the Presidency insists does not exist—as further evidence of the collapse of public institutions in Nigeria.

The controversy stems from allegations reportedly made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), amid questions over the agency’s alleged inclusion in government spending despite the Presidency’s denial of its existence.

Reacting to the development during a political gathering at his Bamaina residence in Jigawa State, Lamido said the scandal should not surprise Nigerians because institutional decay had become entrenched.

“Tell me, which agency is really functioning? Tell me. None,” Lamido said.

“What is new in Nigeria today? The only thing that is new in Nigeria is when something good happens. Anything bad is normal in Nigeria.”

He argued that the controversy transcended the existence or otherwise of a single agency, saying it reflected a wider breakdown in governance and accountability.

“If this is the kind of thing we have in Nigeria, where institutions have collapsed, what do we expect?” he asked.

“Look at the amount of theft in government houses. Look at the amount of theft in banking, in private homes.

Look at the amount of fraud among people. The only thing that is new is when you do the right thing. Doing the wrong thing has become the norm.”

Lamido spoke as his Bamaina country home turned into a political convergence point for the PDP’s emerging generation of leaders, with five governorship candidates paying him a consultative visit ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Leading the delegation was the PDP governorship candidate for Gombe State, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, accompanied by the party’s candidates in Jigawa, Mustapha Sule Lamido; Kano, Muhammad Bello Dalha; Bauchi, Usman Adamu Ahmed; and their counterpart from Yobe State.

The visit underscored Lamido’s growing role as a rallying point within the opposition and a bridge between the PDP’s founding generation and its emerging leadership.

Pantami said the delegation came to seek Lamido’s blessings, guidance and political wisdom, describing consultation with elders as a cherished democratic tradition.

“We are in Jigawa State to pay homage to one of our elders and leaders, His Excellency Sule Lamido. It is our tradition to visit our elders, wish them well and seek their words of wisdom because the words of elders are always words of wisdom,” he said.

The former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy described Lamido as a rare political leader whose administration was defined by pro-people policies inspired by the ideals of the late Aminu Kano.

He said one of the qualities he admired most in Lamido was his unwavering commitment to the poor and his enduring relationship with ordinary people.

According to Pantami, despite leaving office years ago, Lamido still returns regularly to his hometown to interact freely with rural residents.

“Many leaders leave office and cannot return to their villages or stay among their people because they fear being rejected or booed. His Excellency is different because he remains accepted and respected by his people,” he said.

Pantami also applauded Lamido’s courage in speaking truth to power.

“Whether people agree or disagree, he always expresses what he believes is right. Such independence of mind is worthy of emulation,” he added.

The other governorship candidates echoed Pantami’s position, describing Lamido as a principled leader whose simplicity, grassroots appeal and commitment to democratic ideals continue to inspire a new generation of politicians across northern Nigeria.

The political gathering also witnessed a significant boost for the PDP as former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba (retd.), formally dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared for the opposition party.

Abba, who announced his defection during the visit, said he decided to leave the APC after being denied participation in the party’s senatorial primary despite successfully passing its screening process.

He disclosed that he would now contest the Jigawa South-West Senatorial seat on the PDP platform in response to calls from his constituents to represent them in the National Assembly.

“You are aware that I aspired to become a senator under the APC, but unfortunately, I was not even allowed to participate in the primary election after successfully passing the screening process. My motivation has always been to serve my community, and with the experience, education and good health that God has blessed me with, I have decided to join the PDP, where my contributions will be appreciated,” Abba said.

Welcoming the former police chief into the party, Lamido described his defection as a major political gain for the PDP.

“This is a major catch for the PDP. A personality with Abba’s credentials brings credibility, experience and wider acceptance to our party,” he said.

Lamido said the presence of the five PDP governorship candidates from Jigawa, Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Yobe, alongside Abba’s defection, signalled renewed momentum for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He, however, cautioned the candidates against politics of bitterness, urging them to concentrate on rebuilding Nigeria from the grassroots.

“They came to see me as an elder, as their father. I am now the link between the old generation and the new generation,” he said.

According to him, the next phase of Nigeria’s political evolution must be driven by younger leaders with integrity, competence and a passion for public service.

“My concern should be at the state level, which should become the new building blocks. We must identify younger people with character, integrity, capacity, commitment and passion for Nigeria.

“By the time they build the states, they will lay a new foundation for the future of Nigeria.

He also urged the candidates to run issue-based campaigns focused on insecurity, economic hardship, corruption and national unity rather than personal attacks.

“We must restore decency to our politics. Campaigns should centre on policies and programmes, not personalities or insults. Whoever emerges victorious should govern in the interest of all Nigerians,” Lamido said. (The Guardian, excluding headline)

•L-R, PDP Governorship candidate, Jigawa State Mustapha Sule Lamido, PDP Deputy Governorship candidate Jigawa State InuwaTahir, Alhaji Sule Lamido, PDP Gombe Gubernatorial Ccandidate, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, PDP Jigawa State chairman Babandi Ibrahim

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