Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sharply criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) over what he described as an informal and disrespectful approach to inviting him for a tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The invitation, reportedly extended in response to Obasanjo’s remarks during a recent interview with Channels Television, sought to address his skepticism about the refinery’s operational status. During the interview, Obasanjo referenced advice he had received from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which expressed doubts about the refinery’s efficiency and raised concerns about corruption affecting its operations.
Speaking on Thursday, January 2, 2024, Obasanjo claimed that no formal communication had been made by NNPCL to his office regarding the invitation. He questioned the propriety of issuing such an invitation without due protocol and accused the oil company of misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s functionality.
He stated, “Is that the right way to invite a former president of the country? Who says Baba has even seen the statement or read the news? It is a total disrespect for the office of the former president. Ask the NNPCL, as of January 2, have they written to him? Is there any official letter addressed to him, inviting him to the refinery? It is an absolute insult, and the former president cannot dignify such with a response.”
Obasanjo’s strong stance highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the state of Nigeria’s refineries and the transparency of operations at the Port Harcourt facility, raising further questions about the effectiveness of government-led rehabilitation efforts.
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