Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) for inviting him to tour the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries through a public statement, describing it as “disrespectful”.
The invitation came after Obasanjo expressed frustration over the mismanagement of refineries, stating that despite significant expenditure since 2007, no results had been achieved.
Obasanjo recalled that during his administration, an offer by Aliko Dangote to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries for $750 million was rejected, and instead, the NNPCL assured the government that they could operate the refineries effectively.
However, Obasanjo claimed that over $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries since then, with no positive results.
Reacting to Obasanjo statement, the NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, stated that the refineries were working and extending an open invitation to Obasanjo to witness the progress made.
He said, “We extend an open invitation to the former President Obasanjo for a tour of the rehabilitated refineries to witness first hand progress made under the new NNPC Limited.”
However, Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, stated that the oil company had not sent a formal invitation to the former president, making the public statement an “absolute insult”.
The incident has sparked reactions from various groups, including Afenifere and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), who have condemned the NNPCL’s actions as “disrespectful” and “arrogant”.
“You cannot invite Obasanjo on pages of Newspapers. Even the GMD cannot invite another company head in such a manner, not to mention someone who has served both as a General in the Nigeria Army and a military Head of State as well as elected president.”
