Anebi
Former Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo has strongly denied allegations that the 2013 power sector privatisation was manipulated for political gains, dismissing the claims made by Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, a former Minister of Budget and National Planning, as “false, mischievous, and hypocritical.”
In a statement released by his personal secretary, Mr. Yinka Ibrahim, Sambo described Usman’s remarks as a deliberate attempt to discredit the Goodluck Jonathan administration and the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), which Sambo chaired at the time.
“My attention was drawn to a shocking statement attributed to Dr. Usman, suggesting that political considerations influenced the selection of preferred bidders during the privatisation process. This is ridiculous and a complete falsehood,” the statement read.
Dr. Usman had reportedly made the controversial comments at a recent public event in Abuja, alleging that political figures and government officials in the Jonathan administration scrambled for stakes in the privatised power companies.
Sambo, however, refuted the claims, saying that as chairman of the NCP, he oversaw the process with integrity and in strict adherence to established guidelines.
“It is on record that the minister of Power at the time resigned due to a conflict of interest, and both the EFCC and ICPC were included in the Council to ensure transparency,” he said.
“There was no decision taken under my leadership that compromised the integrity of the process.”
The former vice president went further to challenge Dr. Usman to provide concrete evidence or name any individuals or organisations allegedly favoured for political reasons.
He also questioned the timing and motives behind the former minister’s comments, pointing out that Usman played an active role in the privatisation process and chaired multiple committees.
“It’s baffling that he’s making these allegations more than ten years later. One can only wonder if this is an effort to curry favour with the current administration,” Sambo said.
In a parting shot, Sambo advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to be wary of Dr. Usman’s intentions, describing his recent comments as “a classic case of biting the hand that fed him.”
Sambo denies political meddling in 2013 power privatisation, slams ex-minister
