How Obasanjo clashed with me over privatisation of NNPC – Atiku
– Former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar says his proposal for the privatisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was turned down by Olusegun Obasanjo 17 years ago
– Says the reliance on oil has destroyed the political and economic structure of Nigeria
– Calls for the restructuring of the country on the grounds that there is marginalisation in every part of Nigeria
Former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar has disclosed that President Olusegun Obasanjo queried him in 1999 for proposing the privatisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Atiku Abubakar says the reliance on oil has destroyed the political and economic structure of Nigeria.
Atiku, who was speaking at the launch of We Are All Biafrans, a book of essays by journalism and activist, Chido Onumah, in Abuja on Tuesday, May 31, said he made the proposal before the Obasanjo government was inaugurated 17 years ago, The Cable reports.
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He said:“In May 1999, I attended the OTC in Houston, Texas, where I advocated that NNPC should be privatised.
“When I returned my boss (Obasanjo) queried me for saying that. Indeed, when we were inaugurated and he formed his cabinet, he allocated the portfolio of minister of petroleum to himself.
“However, Obasanjo said last week that his greatest regret was not privatising NNPC during his eight years in power. That is 17 years after I proposed it.
The former vice president said the reliance on oil has destroyed the political and economic structure of Nigeria.
Abubakar called for the restructuring of the country on the grounds that there is marginalisation in every part of Nigeria.
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Recall that recently, former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, said he regretted not privatising the NNPC during his eight years in office.
The former president who said this at the opening of a two-day maritime conference, advised the Federal Government to allow the organised private sector play a critical role in repositioning the nation’s moribund assets and infrastructure.
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