By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Amidst speculations about who bought the Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) shares sold off since 2021 by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar after Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Federal Government cancelled the company’s Service Boat Operations Contract between both in 2017, the questionable reinstatement of same contract now under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government also of ruling APC has raised dusts
It would be recalled that while attending a public debate anchored on Channels Television ahead 2019 presidential election along with his then running mate, Mr. Peter Obi, Atiku said he had sold off his shares in the logistics company and accused the APC government of witch-hunt for cancelling the Intels contract with it and distributing it among themselves.
Curiously, Intels cancelled by Buhari has been reinstated by Tinubu and tongues are wagging thus leaving members of the public spreading rumours of all kind regarding reasons behind the reinstatement as different persons say different things. One particular speculator said, “politicians cannot be trusted, now Tinubu has settled his friend, Atiku. They are friends in the private but come into the open to pretend to you as if they are enemies because of their partisan politics.”
The argument
Some even went to the extent of saying it was one of the game play between Tinubu and Atiku and that has caused argument between two social media influencers that is; Tonye Barcanista @TonyeBarcanista and Wonye @wonye1 both on X global network formerly called Twitter. @Wonye! had said, “Baba Atiku don sell his shares for $100m at INTEL. Presidential war chest is ready. I am sure buy back will be another option later, later post 2023,” Wonye posted this on 04 January 2021 arguing over the true ownership of the shares Atiku sold as Tonye Barcanista had said it was Tinubu that bought the shares but Tonye was accused by Wonye of misleading the public with that.
Tonye Barcanista, while discussing the matter, had posted that, “Atiku Abubakar cofounded INTELS, and was doing business with FG through Nigeria Ports Authority. In 2017 the FG not Buhar (in @wonye1 voice) terminated the deal between NPA and INTELS. Atiku accused the FG of withhunt. In 2018-2020 Atiku Abubakar sold off his interests in INTELS for approximately $26m. Guess who bought the shares? Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. In November 2023 FG not Tinubu reinstate its agreement with INTELS owned by Bola Tinubu,” he said.
Wonye @wonye1, however, saw the post by Tonye and reposted his latest: “Intels Nigeria Ltd: the true ownership. 1: Atiku sold his shares in INTELS to ORLEALN INVESTMENT Group. The parent company of Intels. 2: the deal started in December 2018 and was concluded in December 2020. 3: The total amount is $100m. 4: FG not Tinubu has nothing to do with Orleans Investment board of Directors. Orlean has been in Nigeria for long. 5: FG not Tinubu has nothing to do with Intels Nigeria ltd. 6: @TonyeBarcanista misled Nigerians that the shares Atiku sold was $26m to Tinubu. Atiku sold $100m to the parent company of Orlean Investment Group.
“7: I will advise @TonyeBarcanista to delete his tweet to avoid libel. 8: again, Tony misled Nigerians about restoring Intel back. Intel went to court during past FG not Buhari. Buhari’s govt via NPA initiated a resolution of the case based on the advice from HM @FedMinOfJustice that is Malami SAN. 9: FHC adjourned the case for them to reach amicable resolution. 10: The court delivered a CONSENT JUDGEMENT on 21st September 2023. That is an agreement backed by the past FG not Buhari. 11: FG not Tinubu was only obeying a consent Judgement. @TonyeBarcanista is better for you to research and stop fake news. @mobilisingniger.”
Seeing the argment by Wonye, Tonye came all out with evidence for what he posted saying, “Dear @Woye1, I came across your post, which is more like a rejoinder to the post I did yesterday. While I appreciate your efforts to clarify issues (though you still didn’t provide some facts), I wish to state the following…
“1. You accused me of “misleading” Nigerians that Tinubu bought Atiku shares in INTELS. The fact is that I never alleged so. I simply quoted from a report on ThisDay Newspaper that was published and reproduced on Nairaland (see screenshot attached). I attached a screenshot of the ThisDay report in my earlier post.
“2. If the report of Tinubu buying INTELS share from Atiku is untrue, the rejoinder should be to ThisDay that published the report, NOT me that quoted them.
“3. As a public relations practitioner, I have aleays aligned with correct information and not sensationalism. This I believe you can attest considering that I am
not a stranger to you.
“4. In your post you accused me of libel, in truth that was not the case. Perhaps, you may draw my attention to the facts and I would always bow to superior information.
“5. While I appreciate your efforts to inform and educate on policies and programs of the President Bola Tinubu administration, do know that you alternative views should be allowed to thrive as long as they aren’t malicious. In the event that they are malicious, calling the attention of the author to the malicious content is appropriate. Use of subtle threat kills conversation entirely,” he concluded mainly telling his accuser that what he posted leading to revelation of Tinubu as owner of the INTELS shares sold off by Atiku was as published by ThisDay and asking him to rather push his accusation of fake news, if any, to ThisDay instead of to him.
Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections and who also took to the same X network to clarify what has become a issue of debate on the social media, said he had no relationship with Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) since after he sold off his shares of it.
He said this in a post via his X social media network account on Sunday.
The former Vice President made the post in reaction to reports that he is a beneficiary of the decision to rescind the contract cancellation between Intels and the Federal Government just taken by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government.
Atiku speaks
It will be recalled that the Muhammadu Buhari’s government had in 2017 canceled the oil and gas logistics contracts the Intels was running with the Federal Government although he cried out describing it as witch-hunt at the time.
But, Atiku said he sold his shares in Intels, which he co-founded, in December 2020 to the parent company, Orlean Investment Group, and made his exit from the company publicly in January 2021.
He said his divestment from the company had not been reversed to clarify his lack of knowledge of what happened now regarding the latest being talked about.
He stressed that he is not a beneficiary of the reinstatement of the boat pilotage monitoring business that the Federal Government took away from Intels.
“In January 2021, I made public the sale of my shares in Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) to Orlean Investment Group, the parent company of Intels.
“The phased sale of those shares that commenced in 2018 peaked in December 2020. Intels also made public my exit from the oil and gas logistics company, meaning that a different entity now owns those shares I sold.
“My divestment from the company that I co-founded has not been reversed. Consequently, I cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be a beneficiary of the reinstatement of the boat pilotage monitoring business that was taken away from Intels by the Federal Government.
“Therefore, the insinuation that I am a beneficiary of the decision to rescind the cancellation of the contract between Intels and the Federal Government is untrue and should be seen for what it is: mischief,” he wrote.
Tinubu’s NPA
The DEFENDER reports that Charles Okaga, Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex, in a letter copied to all Shipping Companies through Berthing Meeting Committee, had announced the “REINSTATEMENT OF INTELS NIGERIA LIMITED AS THE AUTHORITY’S SERVICE BOAT OPERATIONS MONITORING PROVIDER IN THE PILOTAGE DISTRICTS”.
According to the letter with Ref: LPC/PM/OP/639 dated 40th November, 2023, the Port Manager wrote: “This is to kindly inform you that sequel to the Presidential Directives dated 18th August 2023 and the consent Judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos dated 21st of September 2023, the August has extended the Service Boat Operation Contract between it and Intels Nigeria Limited.
“Further to the above and to support the Authority’s and Federal Government’s drive to increase revenue generation from the Service Boat Operations, Messrs. Intels Nigeria Limited has been directed to resume services immediately. This is in line with the terms of the extended contract contained in the Managing Agency Agreement conveying the scope of Services in addition to the obligations of the Agent.
“Consequent upon the above, you are hereby directed to ensure that Intels Nigeria Limited is allowed unrestricted access to information on Pilotage Movements and to be provided with the necessary assistance to successfully commence operations as the Authority’s Managing Agent on Service Boat operations in Lagos Pilotage District (LPD).
“While thanking you for your usual cooperation, please accept as always the assurances of our esteemed regards,” Charles B. Okaga, the Port Manager Lagos Port Complex, said.
Fact-checks
As at the time of filing this report Sunday afternoon, this fast growing globalised and multi-lingual newspaper could not ascertain the fact about the ownership of the shares Atiku sold off INTELS as he said he sold it to Orlean Investment Group, parent company of the company. But, according to Tonye’s reference to ThisDay and Nairaland, it was Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that bought the shares thus making the reinstatement now by Federal Government under Tinubu questionable and reason for the dust that has been raised.
Our search, returned with only Nairaland confirming its publication of Tinubu connection with the buying while the link acclaimed link with ThisDay was yet to be confirmed.
The Nairaland: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.nairaland.com/4797308/atiku-sold-part-intel-tinubu&ved=2ahUKEwiChcigwfOCAxXqUkEAHeIhCP0QFnoECA0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1razgQ2NGmMKv89ea9hrEr
