Atiku Says Nigeria Transforming Into A Government Of ‘Tinubu, By Tinubu, And For Tinubu’

Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has warned that Nigerians’ futures have been effectively mortgaged to President Bola Tinubu, his family, and associates.

Atiku also believes that even after Tinubu leaves office, these shackles will be nearly impossible to break.

Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election, compares Tinubu’s integration of his business interests into Lagos’ public enterprises to his efforts at the federal level.

“Just as Alpha Beta, Primero, and others serve 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,” Atiku stated.

In a statement endorsed by Mazi Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, the former PDP presidential candidate, expressed surprise at the NNPC’s operations and how the government-owned oil company had placed its retail arm under the control of OVH, a company in which Oando, led by Wale Tinubu, owns 49%.

Atiku expressed regret that his plans to privatise the NNPC and increase its transparency have been overshadowed by what he describes as a criminal hijack of the NNPC by corporate cabals surrounding the current president.

“In October 2022, just five months before the elections, the NNPC Retail controversially announced that it had purchased OVH and all of its filling stations. NNPCL already had approximately 550 filling stations across the country, but claimed it was expanding its capacity by acquiring OVH, which had only 94 stations and 100 leased.

“The NNPC did not disclose the purchase price of OVH or the terms of the transaction. Premium Times’ Freedom of Information request was also denied by the NNPC, which claimed to be a private company while still being government-owned.

“Following this questionable transaction, Mele Kyari was controversially retained as NNPC GMD despite his incompetence. Tinubu then appointed his former Mobil boss, now ally, Pius Akinyelure, as NNPC Chairman, while assuming the role of Minister of Petroleum.

“In a move that defies economic logic, OVH, which was previously owned by NNPC Retail, has now acquired the latter. This bizarre situation means that Wale Tinubu’s Oando now owns 49% of NNPC Retail. Furthermore, Nigeria compensated Wale Tinubu significantly to facilitate the Tinubu family’s acquisition of the national oil company.

“This is a clear example of illogical business transactions and abuse of office by President Tinubu, who has prevented NNPC from becoming a public liability company as required by the PIA.”

Atiku acknowledged that the NNPC and its leadership are under legislative investigation, but he questioned the process’s credibility due to the vested interests of those conducting it.

“Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who leads the National Assembly panel, is a known Tinubu supporter.” He worked as a commissioner for Tinubu in Lagos State and publicly refers to him as his godfather.

“Given that Tinubu is the Petroleum Minister, he should be held accountable for the sector’s problems. “I doubt Bamidele will conduct a thorough investigation that could implicate his patron,” Atiku stated.

Atiku also addressed the recent revelation that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is being litigated.

The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a global network of investigative journalists, reported that the coastal highway project had been taken to court, revealing a close relationship between Tinubu’s son, Seyi, and Gilbert Chagoury, who was awarded the contract without a competitive bidding.

“I had previously claimed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project was fraudulent, but the government denied this. The case is currently being heard in court. It is also concerning that Chagoury and Tinubu have a business relationship, and their children are business partners, according to the OCCRP.

“This demonstrates a conflict of interest. It is no surprise that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway, which will cost more than $24 billion combined, were approved without a competitive bid. “It appears that Tinubu gets whatever he wants,” Atiku said.