Nigeria is rapidly turning into a government of Tinubu, by Tinubu, and for Tinubu – Atiku

Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of transforming Nigeria into his personal domain.

Abubakar, who ran against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, claims that Tinubu has effectively secured Nigeria’s future for himself, his family, and his close associates.

In a statement released on Wednesday, August 21, by Abubakar’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, Abubakar warned that Nigeria is increasingly becoming a government “of Tinubu, by Tinubu, and for Tinubu.”

He cautioned that even after Tinubu leaves office, reversing the consolidation of his influence over national resources and institutions will be challenging.

Abubakar compared Tinubu’s management of business interests in Lagos to his actions at the federal level.

He accused Tinubu of merging his business ventures with government functions, citing companies like Alpha Beta and Primero, which allegedly serve as Tinubu’s proxies in Lagos, managing critical sectors and generating income for his family. According to Abubakar, Tinubu is extending this model to the national stage.

“Just as Alpha Beta and Primero act as Tinubu’s intermediaries in Lagos, handling important sectors and accruing revenue for him and his family, he is now applying the same approach at the federal level,” Abubakar said.

Abubakar also criticized Tinubu for overshadowing his own proposed reforms, such as privatizing the NNPC for greater transparency. He questioned why Mele Kyari remains the NNPC Group Managing Director despite his perceived incompetence and condemned the appointment of Pius Akinyelure, Tinubu’s former superior at Mobil, as NNPC Chairman, while Tinubu himself took on the role of Minister of Petroleum.

He stated:

“The NNPC did not disclose the purchase price of OVH or the terms of the acquisition. The NNPC’s refusal to release this information, despite being a government-owned entity, and the controversial retention of Mele Kyari as GMD, raises serious concerns. Tinubu also appointed his former Mobil boss, Pius Akinyelure, as NNPC Chairman while assuming the role of Minister of Petroleum himself.”

Abubakar further denounced the NNPC Retail’s acquisition by OVH as an illogical transaction and an abuse of power, arguing that it contradicts the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which requires the NNPC to be converted into a public liability company.

While acknowledging that the NNPC and its leadership are under legislative investigation, Abubakar expressed skepticism about the probe’s impartiality, citing concerns over the National Assembly panel’s head, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who is known to be a supporter of Tinubu.