Afenifere, CUPP Sends Messages To Obasanjo As He Slams NNPCL Over Invitation

Afenifere, CUPP React As Obasanjo Slams NNPCL Over Invitation

The Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have expressed their support for former President Olusegun Obasanjo following his recent remarks about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its invitation for him to tour the Port Harcourt Refinery to verify its operational status.

The invitation from NNPCL came after Obasanjo’s interview with Channels Television, where he discussed concerns raised by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). According to Obasanjo, SPDC had advised against equity participation in the refinery due to issues related to corruption, which could hinder its efficiency. The former president also accused NNPCL of misleading the public about the refinery’s operational capacity.

In response, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, reiterated the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability, but this did little to calm tensions. Speaking through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo rejected the invitation, describing it as disrespectful to both his person and his office. He further stated that, as of January 2, 2024, no formal invitation had been extended to him.

The Secretary-General of Afenifere, Sola Ebiseni, criticized NNPCL for addressing the invitation via public newspapers instead of through formal channels. He argued that Obasanjo’s statements were a legitimate critique of the long-standing issues plaguing Nigeria’s refineries, which have suffered from mismanagement and inefficiency for years. Ebiseni condemned NNPCL’s response, calling it a demonstration of arrogance and a failure to engage respectfully with a former leader.

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Ebiseni remarked, “What former President Obasanjo said was quite illuminating about the way the affairs of the country have been or are being handled. He has been out of office since 2007, and until now, what we have seen is the epileptic performance of the refineries. So, it is sheer arrogance and disrespect for the NNPCL to claim they invited him to come and see.”

He went on to stress that when engaging a statesman of Obasanjo’s caliber, a formal and respectful approach should be used, rather than resorting to petty politics. Ebiseni emphasized that if NNPCL disagreed with Obasanjo’s views, they should have approached him directly, rather than using the media to cast him in a negative light.

Similarly, Peter Ameh, the National Secretary of CUPP, condemned NNPCL for publicly inviting Obasanjo through newspaper advertisements, calling it an affront to the former president’s dignity and longstanding record of service to the country. Ameh criticized NNPCL’s practice of prioritizing politics over practical issues affecting the Nigerian people, particularly in relation to the troubled state of the country’s oil refineries.

Ameh stated, “You cannot invite Obasanjo on the pages of newspapers. Even the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPCL cannot invite the head of another company in such a manner, let alone someone who has served as a General in the Nigerian Army, a military Head of State, and two-term democratically elected president of the country. The NNPCL must learn how to do things the right way and avoid politicizing everything, as this is why our economy has nosedived.”

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Ameh also noted that Obasanjo’s remarks about the refineries, which have reportedly cost the nation over $2 billion in attempts to revive them, were valid. He suggested that the best solution might be to hand over the refineries to private entities that could operate them more efficiently through public-private partnerships.

Both Afenifere and CUPP’s reactions highlight broader concerns about the political dynamics surrounding the management of Nigeria’s oil resources and the ongoing challenges in revitalizing the nation’s refineries. These groups have called for a more constructive approach to addressing the country’s energy issues, free from political point-scoring and disrespectful behavior toward past leaders.

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