Ex-President Obasanjo Hits Back At NNPCL: ‘Invitation Was An Insult

Ex-President Obasanjo Hits Back At NNPCL: ‘Invitation Was An Insult

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) for what he described as a “disrespectful” invitation to visit the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. The invitation, which came after Obasanjo’s recent…Ex-President Obasanjo Hits Back At NNPCL: ‘Invitation Was An Insult

interview discussing the mismanagement of Nigeria’s refineries, has sparked outrage.

Obasanjo took to public platforms to express his displeasure, stating that the manner in which the invitation was extended was completely inappropriate for someone who once held the highest office in the land. “This is not the proper way to engage a former president,” he emphasized.

The controversy stems from Obasanjo’s comments on Channels Television, where he highlighted his failed efforts to privatize the country’s refineries during his presidency. He vented his frustrations about the billions of dollars spent on the refineries since 2007 with no tangible results.

He also recalled a pivotal moment when he attempted to offer the management of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to Aliko Dangote’s group, only for his successor, President Musa Yar’Adua, to reject the $750 million offer. According to Obasanjo, despite clear evidence that the NNPCL was incapable of managing the refineries, the corporation insisted it could handle the operations.

“More than $2 billion has been wasted on the refineries, yet they still don’t function,” Obasanjo remarked, contrasting the government’s inefficiency with Dangote’s success in running his privately owned refinery.

In response, NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye invited Obasanjo for a tour of the rehabilitated refineries, claiming that the facilities had been significantly improved under new management.

However, Obasanjo’s spokesperson, Kehinde Akinyemi, swiftly rejected the invitation, calling it an “absolute insult” and stating that there had been no official communication, further intensifying the controversy.

As the drama unfolds, Nigerians remain divided, with many wondering whether the NNPCL’s claims of progress will lead to real change in the country’s oil sector.

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