Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised serious allegations against President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the future of Nigerians is being compromised for the benefit of Tinubu and his associates.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, made these statements during a press briefing held on Wednesday.
Atiku’s accusations center around what he describes as a pattern of corruption and mismanagement in President Tinubu’s administration. He compared Tinubu’s integration of personal business interests into Lagos’s public enterprises with similar actions at the federal level.
‘Just as Alpha Beta, Primero, and others act as Tinubu’s proxies in Lagos, managing critical sectors and generating revenue for him and his family, he has begun to replicate this at the federal level,’” said Paul Ibe, Atiku’s Media Adviser.
Atiku highlighted recent developments in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as a prime example of his concerns. He noted that the NNPCL had controversially acquired OVH, a company partly owned by Oando, led by Wale Tinubu, who is a relative of President Tinubu. This acquisition has been criticized for its lack of transparency and the significant financial transactions involved.
The controversy began in October 2022 when the NNPCL announced it had acquired OVH, which owns filling stations across Nigeria. Atiku criticized the lack of transparency regarding the purchase price and terms of the deal.
“The NNPCL did not disclose the purchase price of OVH or the terms of the acquisition. A Freedom of Information request by Premium Times was also rejected by the NNPC,” Atiku said.
Atiku also accused President Tinubu of manipulating the oil sector for personal gain.
“Following this dubious deal, Mele Kyari was controversially retained as NNPC GMD despite his incompetence. Tinubu then appointed his former boss at Mobil, turned ally, Pius Akinyelure, as NNPC Chairman, while he himself took on the role of Minister of Petroleum,” Atiku explained.
He further criticized the current situation where OVH, previously owned by NNPC Retail, has now acquired NNPC Retail.
“This absurd situation means that Wale Tinubu’s Oando now owns 49% of NNPC Retail,” Atiku noted, suggesting that the Nigerian government paid a significant sum to facilitate this acquisition.
Atiku expressed doubt about the credibility of the ongoing legislative investigations into the NNPCL.
He specifically questioned the impartiality of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who is heading the National Assembly panel investigating the NNPCL.
“Senator Bamidele is a known supporter of Tinubu. Given that Tinubu is the Petroleum Minister, he should be held responsible for the sector’s issues. I doubt Bamidele will conduct a thorough investigation that might implicate his patron,” Atiku said.
Atiku also addressed concerns regarding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which is currently under litigation. He referenced reports from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which revealed that the project was awarded to Gilbert Chagoury without competitive bidding. The report also highlighted a close relationship between Chagoury and Tinubu’s son, Seyi.
“I had earlier claimed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project was fraudulent, but the government denied it. Now, the matter is in court. It is also concerning that Chagoury and Tinubu have a business relationship, and their children are business partners, as revealed by the OCCRP,” Atiku stated.
He criticized the lack of competitive bidding for both the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway projects, which together are projected to cost over $24 billion. “It seems that whatever Tinubu wants, he gets,” Atiku concluded.
Atiku Abubakar’s statements reflect broader concerns about governance and corruption in Nigeria. The country has long struggled with issues related to transparency, accountability, and the integration of private business interests into public administration.
The NNPCL, which was formerly known as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has faced criticism for its management and financial practices. The transition of the NNPC to NNPCL was part of a broader restructuring aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in the oil sector.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, a major infrastructure initiative, has also been controversial due to its high cost and the lack of competitive bidding. Such projects often attract scrutiny over possible corruption and conflicts of interest.
