Obasanjo fires back at NNPCL Over Invitation to Inspect Refineries

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has fired back at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) over its informal invitation to tour the recently rehabilitated Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. He claimed the invitation is disrespectful and improper.

The drama began when Obasanjo expressed his doubts over the claimed refineries’ repairs during a recent interview on Channels TV. He spotlighted NNPCL’s past refusal of a $750 million offer from Aliko Dangote in 2007 to manage the refineries, despite the company’s operational challenges.

Responding to these remarks, NNPCL’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, announced that both refineries had undergone comprehensive overhauls, not just the conventional maintenances in the past. He then invited Obasanjo to come and verify the claim.

In response to this, Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, dismissed the invitation as disrespectful. Akinyemi questioned why no official letter was sent to the former president, labeling the approach an insult to his personality.

Recall that Asiwaju media had earlier reported that the former president was invited by NNPC to inspect refineries.