Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has been tackled by Nigerians on microblogging platform, X for congratulating the President Bola Tinubu administration on the commencement of petroleum products lifting at the Port-Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State.
In a growing controversy to the claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), many sources say that the company was not trucking out Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, from the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The NNPCL instead bought “Cracked C5 petroleum resins” and blended it with other products including Naphtha to sell to the Nigerian public as though the refinery processed it.
Top sources familiar with the activities of the company and the state of the refinery had told SaharaReporters that the claim of trucking out PMS from the reopened refinery was a lie.
Shortly after, NNPCL confirmed SaharaReporters’ exclusive reports that only the old Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State is working and the refinery is trucking out blended PMS (known as Petrol).
Amid the controversy, Peter Obi in a statement posted on his X handle at 7:23am on Wednesday, congratulated the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for what he described as “for fulfilling the long-standing promise of revamping the old Port Harcourt refinery”.
Obi further stated, “The refinery, which comes on stream today boasts an installed production capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Approximately 200 trucks are expected to load products daily from the refinery”.
He, however, noted that Nigerians now await the corresponding impact and benefits on pump prices and the overall economy.
“Additionally, news of the Kaduna refinery’s revival is promising, as it is expected to boost productivity, improve transportation, and alleviate economic burdens across the country.
“While we acknowledge these achievements as a step in the right direction, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of transparency in the operations of the NNPC.
“Nigerians deserve clarity and accountability regarding the management of the nation’s vital oil resources, ensuring that the benefits of increased refining capacity reach every Nigerian and that the gains are used to support long-term development,” he wrote.
Meanwhile the tweet has since generated angry reactions with his admirers tackling him for sending quick congratulation without verifying whether the purported report of revamping Port-Harcourt Refinery was not another “Air Nigeria” project of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While some have vowed not to repost his tweet, others have advised he should delete the tweet and get further details about the Refinery status first.
For some others who probably are APC supporters, they welcomed the tweet as testament that President Bola Tinubu is working.
@D_lone_wolf_II wrote: “Mr. Peter Obi, the NNPC plant that has just opened, has been reported to be a SCAM.
“Once again, they have deceived several Nigerians like as you and I.
“They are blending random chemicals and selling it as “PMS”
If I were you, I would take down this tweet or, at least, edit it.
@ibirogba2000 wrote: “Obi just confirmed that president Tinubu is the best president in the history of Nigeria.
“This is a welcome development and we all know that PBAT was going to deliver
“Peter Obi this is a good time for you to become one of the spokesmen of Tinubu.”
@DavidsOffor wrote: “They are canceling PO for celebrating a success achieved by this FG. How bitter can a set of people be that whenever their country is making progress, they are wailing
“Anyways, kudos PO for the boldness, it is about Nigeria first o.”
For @NaijaHistory_, he wrote: “Today in Nigeria history will remember how Peter Obi congratulated a f@ke PH refinery revamping by the lamba Tinubu regime:”
@DailyJusticeAct, however questioned whether Mr Peter Obi did due diligence before his post, adding “Agbado & his gang simply moved their Malta blending scam to Port-Harcourt & you are congratulating..”
“Did you do due diligence b4 this post..
“#chai”
@OfficiaEdoOsasB wrote: “Nothing to congratulate until we see results.
Read also:
Port Harcourt Refinery Begins Operations, Fuel Price May Drop (video)