Former Vice President Accuses Tinubu of Favoritism Towards Son’s Company
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over the awarding of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project to the Chagoury Group, alleging a conflict of interest involving President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi.
Atiku, through his Media Adviser Paul Ibe, stated that Seyi Tinubu serves on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group, which is owned by one of the president’s business allies, Gilbert Chagoury.
This relationship, Atiku argued, represents a breach of procurement laws and raises questions about the transparency of the contract allocation process.
Describing it as a case of personal interest superseding national welfare, Atiku urged Tinubu to prioritize genuine investment attraction over what he termed as “propaganda as a state policy.”
Referring to a report by Africa Intelligence, Atiku highlighted the business partnership between Chagoury and Tinubu, suggesting that this relationship has led to the Chagoury Group becoming a major beneficiary of government projects.
He criticized the lack of competitive bidding for the project, emphasizing its hefty cost to taxpayers amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Moreover, Atiku raised concerns about the lack of proper planning and coordination in the execution of the project, citing issues such as incomplete environmental impact assessments and the sudden shift from a public-private partnership to a government-funded initiative.
He also criticized the allocation of funds without proper legislative approval, pointing to discrepancies between allocated and released amounts.
The former presidential candidate further criticized the Tinubu administration’s management of the economy, citing examples such as fuel subsidies and petrol scarcity, which he attributed to a lack of transparency and coordination.
Atiku’s allegations underscore the broader debate surrounding transparency and accountability in government contracts and the need to address conflicts of interest to ensure fair and equitable distribution of resources for national development.
