Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused President Bola Tinubu of turning Nigeria into a personal enterprise and essentially โmortgaging the future of Nigerians to himself, his family, and his associates.โ
Atiku, through his media adviser Paul Ibe, expressed concern that Nigeria might remain under Tinubuโs influence even after his presidency ends.
He compared Tinubuโs current actions to how he previously merged Lagosโs public businesses with his private interests.
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โAtiku said, โJust as Alpha Beta, Primero, and others acted as Tinubuโs proxies in Lagos, managing key sectors and generating revenue for him and his family, he is now doing the same at the federal level.โ
He pointed out the controversial acquisition of OVH by NNPC Retail, a deal involving Wale Tinubuโs Oando, which holds a 49 percent stake. Atiku criticized this move, calling it a โcriminal hijackโ that undermines transparency.
Atiku explained that the terms of the acquisition were kept secret and questioned the credibility of the ongoing investigation into NNPC due to its ties with Tinubu allies.
โSenator Opeyemi Bamidele, leading the investigation, is a known ally of Tinubu,โ Atiku said.
โHis past connection with Tinubu raises concerns about the impartiality of the investigation.โ
Atiku also highlighted the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, now in court over its controversial awarding to Gilbert Chagoury, noting the close ties between Chagoury and Tinubuโs family.
โThis project, which I previously criticized as fraudulent, is now under legal scrutiny,โ Atiku stated. โThe connections between Chagoury and Tinubuโs family suggest serious conflicts of interest.โ