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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he accused the Federal Government of playing politics with the long-running OPL 245 controversy.
According to him, the prior notice issued by Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, through its lawyer, Chief RO Atabo, SAN, LL.D, punctured the carefully constructed narrative of victory peddled by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi.
“Contrary to official statements, it is now clear that the matter is far from resolved and remains the subject of multiple legal proceedings, including cases before the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court,” he said on Sunday, adding that “even more worrying is the revelation that Malabu – a major stakeholder with long-standing legal and equitable interests in OPL 245 – was neither consulted nor involved in any purported negotiation or resolution process. This raises fundamental questions about the legality, transparency and integrity of the so-called “Settlement Agreement”. Resolution” stipulated in the Presidential Villa”.
He said a government that sidelines critical stakeholders, ignores pending judicial processes and proceeds to celebrate a disputed agreement does not demonstrate strength, but recklessness.
“This development is not an isolated incident, but fits into a larger and disturbing pattern that has come to define the Tinubu administration: a model of governance driven more by propaganda than substance, more by optics than legality, and more by expediency than national interest.
“For almost three years, Nigerians have been inundated with grand claims of economic recovery and institutional reform. However, the lived reality tells a different story: worsening economic hardship, worsening insecurity and growing distrust in public institutions.
“Nowhere is this contradiction more evident than in the oil and gas sector.
It also raised the alarm over what it identified as credible reports suggesting a planned sale of up to 30% of the assets of the Nigerian joint venture under NNPC Limited, saying that these assets are not mere business tools; they are strategic national holdings – the backbone of Nigeria’s revenue architecture. Any attempt to dispose of it without full transparency, competitive evaluation and public accountability would amount to silently auctioning off Nigeria’s future.
“We call on PENGASSAN, NUPENG and all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to remain vigilant. The Nigerian people must not be cheated through opaque transactions carried out under the cover of reform,” he said, adding that “equally worrying are reports regarding the relocation of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services to Lagos for an alleged annual rental cost in excess of ₦9 billion. At a time when Nigeria is grappling with a debt service burden unprecedented, increasing from nearly ₦7 trillion in 2023 to around ₦16 trillion – such spending raises serious questions about fiscal discipline and prioritization.
“Even more disturbing are allegations, yet to be credibly refuted, that the property in question may be linked to interests associated with the president’s family. In public service, perception matters. Silence in the face of such weighty allegations only deepens suspicion and erodes public trust. This is how institutions are weakened – not always by blatant lawlessness, but by a steady erosion of transparency, accountability and ethical governance.
“The dispute over OPL 245 is therefore not just about one oil block, but is emblematic of a broader governance crisis – where due process is treated as optional, where legal disputes are repackaged as political victories, and where national resources are managed with worrying opacity.
“At the same time, Nigerians continue to endure a worsening security situation. From banditry to kidnappings, from insurgencies to violent crime, the country remains under siege. Farmers cannot farm. Businesses cannot operate safely. Citizens cannot travel without fear. Yet, instead of decisive action, what Nigerians receive are carefully crafted statements designed to mask inaction.
“Security is not a slogan. It is a duty. And on this fundamental responsibility the government continues to fall short.
“The economic outlook is no less worrying. Despite claims of rising revenues, there is little evidence of corresponding improvements in infrastructure, healthcare or education. Borrowing continues at an alarming rate, while government debt approaches dangerously close to unsustainable levels.
He said the unfolding OPL 245 saga is a stark reminder that no amount of propaganda can replace due process. No statement can prevail in the courts. And no government can ignore the truth indefinitely. History will take note of it. But more importantly, the Nigerian people are watching and will not be fooled.
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