Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has leveled serious accusations against President Bola Tinubu, claiming that Nigeria is being reshaped into a “government of Tinubu, by Tinubu, and for Tinubu.”
In a statement released on Wednesday by his media adviser Paul Ibe, Atiku alleged that the president, his family, and his associates have effectively mortgaged the country’s future.
Atiku expressed concerns that the influence and control of Tinubu’s business interests are extending from Lagos to the federal level. He compared Tinubu’s integration of his business interests into Lagos public enterprises—such as Alpha Beta and Primero—with similar moves at the federal level.
Atiku highlighted the recent controversial move involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and OVH, a company linked to Oando, led by Wale Tinubu. The acquisition of NNPC Retail by OVH, where Oando holds a significant stake, has raised eyebrows. Atiku criticized this arrangement as a glaring example of business transactions lacking in transparency and potentially serving the interests of Tinubu’s family.
“The NNPC has been hijacked by corporate cabals around the current president,” Atiku said. “It’s absurd that OVH now owns part of NNPC Retail, and Nigeria paid Wale Tinubu to facilitate this acquisition.”
Atiku also expressed skepticism about the current legislative investigation into the NNPC, citing concerns over the impartiality of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who leads the panel. Bamidele’s connections to Tinubu, he argued, could compromise the investigation’s integrity.
In addition to these issues, Atiku commented on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which is now embroiled in legal disputes. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has reported that the project, awarded without competitive bidding, is linked to Tinubu’s family and associates, raising further concerns about conflicts of interest.
Atiku concluded that the approval process for major infrastructure projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway, is tainted by favoritism, suggesting that “whatever Tinubu wants, he gets.”
