Atiku Abubakar Accuses President Tinubu of Entrenching Corruption, Mortgaging Nigeria’s Future
ABUJA/Nigeria: Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has leveled serious accusations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asserting that the future of Nigerians has been effectively mortgaged to Tinubu, his family, and associates.
Atiku, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, warned that even after Tinubu leaves office, it will be nearly impossible to break the grip these interests have on the nation.
In a scathing statement, signed by Paul Ibe, his Media Adviser, Atiku drew parallels between Tinubu’s business entanglements in Lagos and his actions at the federal level, suggesting that Tinubu is replicating his control of critical sectors nationwide.
“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,” Atiku alleged.
Atiku expressed alarm over the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), highlighting how the government-owned oil company’s retail arm has come under the control of OVH, a company in which Oando, led by Wale Tinubu, holds a 49% stake.
He lamented that his own plans to privatize the NNPC and enhance its transparency have been overshadowed by what he describes as a “criminal hijack” of the corporation by corporate interests linked to President Tinubu.
“In October 2022, just five months before the elections, the NNPC Retail controversially announced it had acquired OVH and all its filling stations,” Atiku recounted.
“NNPCL already had about 550 filling stations across the country but claimed it was enhancing its capacity by acquiring OVH, which had only 94 stations and 100 others leased.”
Atiku criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the deal, noting that the NNPC has refused to disclose the purchase price or terms of the acquisition. He also pointed out that a Freedom of Information request by Premium Times was rejected by the NNPC, which claimed to be a private company despite its government ownership.
Further, Atiku questioned the retention of Mele Kyari as NNPC’s Group Managing Director, despite allegations of incompetence, and pointed to Tinubu’s appointment of his former boss at Mobil, Pius Akinyelure, as NNPC Chairman.
“In a move that defies economic logic, 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 remarked, condemning what he sees as an abuse of office by President Tinubu.
Atiku also expressed doubts about the credibility of ongoing legislative investigations into the NNPC’s operations, noting that the panel’s head, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, is a known supporter of Tinubu. “Given that Tinubu is the Petroleum Minister, he should be held responsible for the sector’s issues,” Atiku said, questioning whether the investigation would be impartial.
Additionally, Atiku commented on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which has come under litigation, citing reports from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) that reveal a close relationship between Tinubu’s son, Seyi, and Gilbert Chagoury, who was awarded the contract without competitive bidding.
“This indicates a conflict of interest,” Atiku stated, adding that the project, along with the Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway, which together will cost over $24 billion, was approved without competitive bidding.
Atiku concluded his statement by criticizing what he perceives as President Tinubu’s unchecked power, asserting that “whatever Tinubu wants, he gets,” and urging Nigerians to remain vigilant in the face of what he believes to be deepening corruption under the current administration.
