By Abiola Olawale
A former Vice President and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised an alarm that some “corporate cabals” loyal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have allegedly infiltrated the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
According to the former presidential candidate of the PDP, the decision of the government-owned oil company to put its retail arm under the control of OVH, a company allegedly affiliated to Oando, lwhich is being ed by Wale Tinubu, is questionable.
Atiku claimed that the future of Nigerians has been effectively mortgaged to the president, his family, and associates.
He made this known in a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe.
Atiku said his intention to privatise the NNPC and increase its transparency has been overshadowed, describing it as “the criminal hijack of the company by corporate cabals around the president”.
The statement reads in part: “In October 2022, just five months before the elections, the NNPC retail controversially announced it had acquired OVH and all its filling stations,” Atiku said.
“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.
“The NNPC 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, which claimed to be a private company despite still being government-owned.
“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 took on the role of minister of petroleum.
“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.
“Moreover, Nigeria paid Wale Tinubu a significant sum to facilitate the Tinubu family’s acquisition of the national oil company.
“This represents a clear case of illogical business transactions and abuse of office by President Tinubu, who has prevented NNPC from becoming a public liability company as stipulated by the PIA.
“Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who is heading the national assembly panel, is a known supporter of Tinubu. He served as a commissioner under Tinubu in Lagos state and publicly calls him his godfather,” he said.
“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.”
