The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of attempting to distort public perception of his record on the privatisation of government-owned enterprises during his time in office.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group said Atiku’s response to recent remarks by President Bola Tinubu on his role as Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) between 1999 and 2007 failed to address key issues.
According to the group, President Tinubu’s comments were grounded in verifiable historical records, noting that he spoke as a participant in governance during the period under review. It maintained that the privatisation programme under former President Olusegun Obasanjo was marred by controversies, legal disputes, and allegations of irregularities.
TMSG criticised what it described as a selective defence mounted by Atiku’s media team, which highlighted only a handful of privatisation deals out of many handled by the NCP. It argued that such a response was diversionary and did not sufficiently counter concerns raised about the process.
The group also questioned the outcomes of specific transactions cited by the President, particularly the privatisation of Delta Steel Company (DSC) in Aladja and Ajaokuta Steel Company. It asked how the companies have performed since their transfer to private ownership under the former Vice President’s oversight.
Citing reports from a 2025 National Assembly hearing, TMSG claimed that DSC was sold for about $30 million despite being valued at over $700 million, describing the transaction as indicative of broader concerns surrounding the privatisation exercise.
It further referenced earlier concerns raised by former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, who reportedly highlighted anomalies in the privatisation agreements and alleged that the ministry was not adequately involved in the process.
The group added that other enterprises, including the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), its mobile arm M-Tel, and the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), were also sold under conditions that have since led to their decline.
TMSG urged the former Vice President to address the substantive issues raised rather than engage in what it termed “diversionary rhetoric,” added that his legacy on privatisation would ultimately be judged by history.
