*Accuses Federal Govt Of Continued Harassment
Former Vice president Atiku Abubakar has sold off his shares at Integrated Logistics Services (Intels) Nigeria Ltd, a company he co-founded, over what he called continued harassment of his business interests by the federal government that has” been destroying legitimate business because of politics.”
Atiku who was a co-founder of Integrated Logistics Services (Intels) Nigeria Ltd along with his late political mentor and business associate, Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua confirmed selling off his shares at Intels, alleging that the current administration has been hostile to his business interests because of political differences.
Intels is a mainly logistics firm that offers integrated logistics services for the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry. Together with late General Yar’Adua, Atiku co-founded Intels about thirty years ago in Nigeria.
The firm started its operations in the Oil and Gas logistic sector in Onne, Rivers state. The New Diplomat’s checks reveal that this development has led to a mass retrenchment of workers at the organization. Though the actual numbers of staff affected could not be ascertained, it was gathered that those affected are in large numbers.
Atiku, in a press statement released by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, confrmed this, while disclosing further that his decision to sell off his shares has consequently affected thousands of workers who have been forced out of their jobs at Intels.
The full statement entitled: “Atiku redirects his investment in Intels”, reads thus:
“Co-founder of Integrated Logistics Services Nigeria Limited (Intels), Atiku Abubakar, has been selling his shares in Intels over the years.
“It assumed greater urgency in the last last five years, because this Government has been preoccupied with destroying a legitimate business that was employing thousands of Nigerians because of politics.
“There should be a marked difference between Politics and Business. Yes, he has sold his shares in Intels and redirected his investment to other sectors of the economy for returns and creation of jobs.”
