Presidency Denies Reports of Muhammed Babangida Rejecting Bank of Agriculture Appointment

The Presidency has dismissed reports claiming that Muhammed Babangida, son of former military Head of State Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), rejected his recent appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) by President Bola Tinubu.

This clarification comes after a letter purportedly authored by Muhammed was shared on Monday by Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu. The letter, dated July 21, 2025, suggested that Muhammed had declined the role due to “personal and professional considerations.”

However, presidential media aide Olusegun Dada countered the report in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), insisting that Muhammed had, in fact, accepted the appointment.

“Muhammed Babangida has officially accepted his appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture, expressing deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the trust reposed in him,” Dada stated.

He described the circulating rejection letter as “false and malicious,” accusing unnamed individuals of attempting to mislead the public and damage the image of the Tinubu administration.

“We wish to clarify that Muhammed gratefully accepts the appointment… and extends his sincere appreciation to President Tinubu for the trust and confidence bestowed upon him,” the statement added.

The Presidency also vowed to investigate the source of the purported letter, promising that those responsible for spreading misinformation would be identified and held accountable. It urged the public to rely on verified sources for accurate information.

Despite the official statement, the controversy continues to unfold. The letter shared by Momodu, titled ‘Declining Appointment as Chairman, Bank of Agriculture’, contains a detailed explanation allegedly from Muhammed, citing his inability to give the role the full attention it requires.

“I never took this decision lightly,” the letter read in part. “It stems from a convergence of personal and professional considerations… I remain fully committed to supporting national development in other ways.”

Momodu, who recently joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), praised the supposed rejection on Instagram, calling it a “rejection of a Greek gift.”

In response, the ADC criticized President Tinubu, accusing him of using appointments as a political strategy to gain favor in Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Muhammed Babangida’s appointment was one of several announced recently by the federal government aimed at bolstering leadership across key national institutions.