By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Presidency has denied reports that Muhammed Babangida, son of former military ruler Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, rejected his appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), describing the claim as false and misleading.
Controversy erupted on Monday after veteran journalist and Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, shared a letter purportedly authored by Muhammed Babangida, in which he declined the appointment, citing “personal and professional considerations.”
The letter, dated July 21, 2025, and titled “Declining Appointment as Chairman, Bank of Agriculture,” expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the honour but stated that Babangida would be unable to serve due to the demands of the role.
The letter read in part:
“After careful reflection and consultation, I have decided, with utmost respect, to decline the appointment… I remain fully committed to the vision of a prosperous and self-sufficient Nigeria under your leadership.”
However, in a swift rebuttal, presidential aide Olusegun Dada stated via a post on X, that the reports of rejection were “false and malicious.”
According to Dada, Muhammed Babangida has officially accepted the role and expressed “deep gratitude to President Tinubu for the trust reposed in him.”
“We wish to clarify that Muhammed gratefully accepts the appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture… and extends his sincere appreciation to President Tinubu for the trust and confidence bestowed upon him,” Dada said.
He further accused unnamed individuals of attempting to mislead the public and tarnish the Tinubu administration, promising that those responsible for spreading the misinformation would be investigated and held accountable.
“We also want to assure the public that those spreading these falsehoods will be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice,” the statement added.
The presidency emphasized its commitment to transparency and called on Nigerians to verify information from credible sources.
Meanwhile, Dele Momodu, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to the conflicting reports by hailing Babangida’s alleged rejection.
He described the appointment as a Greek gift in a post on Instagram, seemingly casting doubt on the presidency’s claim.
Muhammed Babangida’s appointment was part of a batch of fresh leadership selections made by President Tinubu to strengthen key federal institutions.
The controversy comes amid criticism from opposition groups like the ADC, which accused Tinubu of using strategic appointments to curry favour with Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
