Nigerians on Twitter have criticised Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, for restating his plan to sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) if elected president on Saturday.
Twitterati did not mince words as they lambasted the former Vice President and gave their two cents over “his selfish” ambition to enrich his elite friends and render civil servants and second class citizens impoverished.
These reactions are currently trending on Twitter and have garnered thousands of comments as many argued their points for or against the Waziri of Adamawa.
WuzupNaija reports that Atiku at the stakeholders meeting in Kaduna state, on Wednesday, said his resolve to sell national assets was informed by the fact that NNPC has since inception in 1963 failed to meet its expectation of refining crude oil for the country’s consumption.
He insisted he will sell off the NNPC to provide more development, stressing his decision is against the backdrop that only very few are benefiting from the operations of the national asset at the expense of the masses.
“The NNPC will be sold to Nigerians with money to buy it.
“Its 63 years Nigeria found crude but up till now we are yet to refine petrol and kerosine by ourselves.
“We have refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt but saboteurs stopped them from working,” Atiku said.
Meanwhile, his #Atikulated clan on Twitter believe his plans is for the interest of Nigerians.
See some reactions:
Where is nitel now,some people don’t understand that privatization in Nigeria is bent on corruption.that is where legit oil bunkring will https://t.co/jQvCIsipLs dad was a nitel staff I pray what happened to our family don’t happen to nnpc staffs
— officeofthecitizen? (@agbogun_lateef) February 21, 2019
Now I get why Atiku is desperate to get back to power. He forgot or didn’t have enough time to sell off NNPC during his 8years rule with OBJ, now he’s trying to comeback and complete his unfinished business! Say no to athiefku!
— juelz!!! (@tujay) February 21, 2019
And millions of Nigeria working there will lose their jobs again… Is that the way to get them better or worse? Is that another way to create employment as he has promised? Remember #PMBpaypension the mess they created. May the will of God be the wish of the people on Saturday.
— John Olatunji (@Jkolatunji) February 21, 2019
“I will sell NNPC to wealthy Nigerians”-Atiku insists
Main reason Atiku is running for President. He has bought nearly all assets in Telecoms&Power. D only 1 he forgot is NNPC, thats d reason he said “even if u kill me I will sell NNPC”. That’s his last robbery mission on earth.
— Ahmad Mudathir Imam (@mudathir_ahmad) February 21, 2019
He needs to tell us who he wants to sell it to, we can’t forget the botched sale of NITEL, and the neglect of its employees. More reason God will not allow Atiku become the president
— Dammy Oni (@Dharmmy_rustu) February 21, 2019
Who are the wealthy Nigerians???
How did they get wealthy???Hmmmm! Hope it isn’t Nigeria money that was looted they want to use to buy its property.
Baba God, na your hand #NNPC dey
— SLOY (@SLOY_KERN) February 21, 2019
He criticized it but all of a sudden his eyes are on NNPC. Old habits die hard, he sold of ALSCON, NITEL..They killed Nigerian Airways because they couldn’t get their preferred buyer in the deal.
Privatization must benefit the public but Atiku hasn’t shown over the years that— Dr. Guendouzi (@fimiletoks) February 21, 2019
Their greed to enrich themselves and their friends through privatization of NITEL led Nigerians into a round of poverty, the thief is planning to come and sell NNPC too.
— Afolabi Abiodun (@afolabiodun) February 21, 2019
That has always been your priority, selling of governments properties so that you will re-buy them just the way you did in the case of Nicon Noga etc. You have very bad policies if elected.
— Oscar J Nanmwa (@OscarJNanmwa6) February 21, 2019
Atiku said he will sell NNPC like Obasanjo sold NITEL. However he forgot to tell his Kaduna town hall meeting d outcome of sales of NITEL. Disastrous oooo. Uche, Uchenna said NNPC people pension don go. NITEL just got their own after many years. my chicken wings& Long Island ooo
— Woye (@woye1) February 20, 2019
The sales of NITEL, fraudulent or not, opened market for our telecommunication industry.
Imagine the same thing happening to our oil sector, imagine how many refineries will be set up, think about the byproducts resulting to more factories.
NNPC must not kill us, privatise it
— Maryam (@247Crux) February 21, 2019
Wetin concern NNPC and poor man?@atiku said he will sell NNPC and you’re ranting? Now that its government’s, does it benefit you the ordinary Nigerian?
NNPC has always been synonymous to the rich and powerful just like NITEL was in the past but today MTN is “Everywhere you go”
— Chinedu PC-Okeke (@chineduokeke38) February 21, 2019
No big deal in @atiku plan to sell or privatize NNPC . We saw greater growth in telecom after NITEL. Over the years, NNPC has not met with reasonable performance level of her purpose. If such idea can create better jobs and high productivity, so be it. Sell it.
— Omotayo (@tincdeep) February 21, 2019
As much as we all want the NNPC to be run properly, & no longer be signposted by fraud /graft, privatising it, is a NO
It should b restructured to b an entity listed on the NSE, out of the control of govt, under legislation, backed by law, a complete biz entity we have stakes in— Salawho Salame (@TSkadau) February 21, 2019
Please let us not get carried away with the NITEL being sold by Atiku story. I know the NITEL story very well and what killed NITEL was not privitisation but deregulation of the communication sector, Pentscope’s involvement and nepotism.
— Odera (@oderathekid) February 21, 2019
