A civil society organisation, the Movement for Anti-Corruption, Integrity, and Transparency Initiative, has criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his recent remarks about state-owned refineries and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL)....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
The group alleged that Obasanjo’s comments were driven by personal grievances stemming from the reversal of refinery privatisations during his administration.
In a statement on Sunday signed by National President Comrade Goodway Jackson and Secretary General Comrade Mohammed Kuda, the organisation contended that Obasanjo’s persistent criticism of state refineries was influenced by his failed attempts to privatise them before leaving office in 2007.
They argued that the former president’s negative stance is rooted in a personal vendetta following the cancellation of the refineries’ sale by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The group urged him to set aside personal grievances and contribute constructively to the nation’s oil sector, emphasising the need for support rather than undermining state-owned enterprises.
This criticism follows Obasanjo’s recent statements accusing state-owned refineries of mismanagement and corruption. He recounted that during his tenure, companies like Shell declined to manage Nigeria’s refineries, citing poor maintenance and corruption concerns.
He expressed frustration over the lack of progress despite significant expenditures of over $2 billion since 2007, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the sector. Obasanjo also mentioned that both Shell and Aliko Dangote had previously offered to manage the refineries — Shell rejected the proposal, while Dangote’s offer was turned down by Obasanjo’s successor due to NNPC’s assurances of managing the plants. He believes that Dangote’s privately owned refinery would likely be run more efficiently than the government-run ones.
In response to his criticisms, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye defended the corporation, stating that the refineries had undergone maintenance and invited Obasanjo to visit and see the progress.
In that light, the Movement for Anti-Corruption, Integrity, and Transparency Initiative called on stakeholders to focus on nation-building and the effective management of state resources, urging a departure from personal vendettas that may hinder progress in Nigeria’s oil industry.
They added, “The recent outburst by the former president has revealed him as someone who doesn’t want to see the state-owned refineries work.
“Those who are awaiting the privatisation of the refineries in a manner contrary to the national interest should be advised to set up their own refineries, like the Dangote Group.
“Since the ex-president lost out in his quest to be part of the owners of the refineries, he has refused to find satisfaction with the management of the state-owned refineries, no matter how good, or with the successes being recorded within the oil sector.” ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
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