The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has refuted claims that he is a beneficiary of the Federal Government’s decision to reinstate Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) in the boat pilotage monitoring business.
The Nigerian Ports Authority, in a letter dated November 30, announced the reinstatement of Intels as the monitoring provider for boat pilotage in the pilotage districts. Some Nigerians speculated that President Bola Tinubu was behind the decision and that it benefitted Atiku.
In response, Atiku released a statement on his official Facebook page on Sunday, debunking the allegations. He clarified that he sold his shares in Intels in January 2021 to Orlean Investment Group, the parent company of Intels. Atiku explained that the phased sale of his shares commenced in 2018 and was completed in December 2020.
Atiku further stated that his divestment from the company he co-founded has not been reversed, emphasizing that he cannot be considered a beneficiary of the reinstatement of the boat pilotage monitoring business taken away from Intels by the Federal Government.
He described the insinuations as untrue and mischievous, asserting that he has no connection to the recent decision regarding Intels and the Federal Government.