Atiku Challenges Tinubu: Explain Why Your Nephew Received Accelerated Approval to Buy Oil Assets
Atiku Abubakar Accuses President Tinubu of Favoritism in Oil Assets Deal.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has leveled serious allegations against President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of granting undue advantages to his nephew in the acquisition of valuable oil assets in the country.
Read Also: Disclose Details Of Chinese Loans, Others – SERAP Tells Wike, Nigerian Governors
In a statement released on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the federal government’s decision to expedite the approval for Oando Plc, owned by Tinubu’s nephew, to purchase the onshore assets of AGIP and ENI, while similar transactions involving other companies have faced significant delays.
Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed concerns that Oando was receiving preferential treatment in the oil and gas sector, potentially sidelining more competent investors.
Two Police Officers Killed, 3 Unconscious as Shiites Clash with Police in Abuja
He further criticized the House of Representatives for allegedly failing to hold the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) accountable, accusing the company of prioritizing the interests of a few over the nation’s resources.
In his statement, Atiku highlighted the swift approval granted to Oando by the Nigerian Upstream Production Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for the acquisition of ENI/AGIP’s onshore assets within a short span of eight months.
He contrasted this with the ongoing delays in the approval processes for SEPLAT’s attempt to acquire Mobil’s onshore assets and the Renaissance and Shell deal, both of which have been stalled for years. Atiku suggested that the accelerated approval for Oando was indicative of preferential treatment tied to familial connections.
“Democracy in Nigeria under Tinubu has become a government for the President and his family members,” Atiku stated, criticizing what he perceives as a shift in governance that prioritizes personal interests over national welfare.
Atiku also called out the House of Representatives for not taking adequate action despite directives for NNPC Ltd to suspend the acquisition of OVH assets pending a thorough investigation.
He noted that the NNPC ignored requests for vital information and went ahead with the transaction, effectively mortgaging the future of Nigeria’s oil sector to private interests.
In his concluding remarks, Atiku accused the leadership of the NNPC, NUPRC, and NMDPRA of colluding to fulfill a mandate that serves the interests of Tinubu, rather than the Nigerian people.
He claimed that the continued retention of these officials in their positions, despite the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the sector, was evidence of their loyalty to the President’s agenda.
The allegations from Atiku have intensified the ongoing debate over transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil sector, raising questions about the influence of personal relationships on national decision-making.
