Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of shifting responsibility for Nigeria’s troubled petroleum refineries to previous administrations, saying the current government must account for the billions of naira committed to the facilities under its watch.Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Sunday, said the Tinubu administration could no longer blame inherited liabilities after more than three years in office.He anchored his criticism on financial figures contained in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s records, which, according to him, showed that the combined obligations of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries to NNPCL rose from about ₦4.52tn in 2023 to ₦8.67tn in 2024.The increase of approximately ₦4.15tn in one year, Atiku argued, raises questions about the financial commitments made to the refineries and the returns Nigerians received from them.The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate also seized on a recent admission by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, that the state-owned refineries had been operating at a “monumental loss” and that continuing their operations under the existing arrangement was destroying value.Ojulari made the disclosure in February 2026 during a fireside chat at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, where he said NNPCL had halted operations after an internal assessment showed low utilisation, lack of a credible path to profitability and continued financial losses.Atiku said the admission had exposed what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s earlier presentation of the refinery rehabilitation programme.“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways. When the cameras were rolling in November 2024, his government told Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery was back. NNPCL announced that it was operating at 70 per cent capacity and expressly presented it as an achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership.“Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Sunday, said the Tinubu administration could no longer blame inherited liabilities after more than three years in office.He anchored his criticism on financial figures contained in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s records, which, according to him, showed that the combined obligations of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries to NNPCL rose from about ₦4.52tn in 2023 to ₦8.67tn in 2024.The increase of approximately ₦4.15tn in one year, Atiku argued, raises questions about the financial commitments made to the refineries and the returns Nigerians received from them.The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate also seized on a recent admission by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, that the state-owned refineries had been operating at a “monumental loss” and that continuing their operations under the existing arrangement was destroying value.Ojulari made the disclosure in February 2026 during a fireside chat at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, where he said NNPCL had halted operations after an internal assessment showed low utilisation, lack of a credible path to profitability and continued financial losses.Atiku said the admission had exposed what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s earlier presentation of the refinery rehabilitation programme.“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways. When the cameras were rolling in November 2024, his government told Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery was back. NNPCL announced that it was operating at 70 per cent capacity and expressly presented it as an achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership.“Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. He anchored his criticism on financial figures contained in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s records, which, according to him, showed that the combined obligations of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries to NNPCL rose from about ₦4.52tn in 2023 to ₦8.67tn in 2024.The increase of approximately ₦4.15tn in one year, Atiku argued, raises questions about the financial commitments made to the refineries and the returns Nigerians received from them.The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate also seized on a recent admission by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, that the state-owned refineries had been operating at a “monumental loss” and that continuing their operations under the existing arrangement was destroying value.Ojulari made the disclosure in February 2026 during a fireside chat at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, where he said NNPCL had halted operations after an internal assessment showed low utilisation, lack of a credible path to profitability and continued financial losses.Atiku said the admission had exposed what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s earlier presentation of the refinery rehabilitation programme.“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways. When the cameras were rolling in November 2024, his government told Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery was back. NNPCL announced that it was operating at 70 per cent capacity and expressly presented it as an achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership.“Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. The increase of approximately ₦4.15tn in one year, Atiku argued, raises questions about the financial commitments made to the refineries and the returns Nigerians received from them.The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate also seized on a recent admission by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, that the state-owned refineries had been operating at a “monumental loss” and that continuing their operations under the existing arrangement was destroying value.Ojulari made the disclosure in February 2026 during a fireside chat at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, where he said NNPCL had halted operations after an internal assessment showed low utilisation, lack of a credible path to profitability and continued financial losses.Atiku said the admission had exposed what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s earlier presentation of the refinery rehabilitation programme.“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways. When the cameras were rolling in November 2024, his government told Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery was back. NNPCL announced that it was operating at 70 per cent capacity and expressly presented it as an achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership.“Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate also seized on a recent admission by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, that the state-owned refineries had been operating at a “monumental loss” and that continuing their operations under the existing arrangement was destroying value.Ojulari made the disclosure in February 2026 during a fireside chat at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, where he said NNPCL had halted operations after an internal assessment showed low utilisation, lack of a credible path to profitability and continued financial losses.Atiku said the admission had exposed what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s earlier presentation of the refinery rehabilitation programme.“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways. When the cameras were rolling in November 2024, his government told Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery was back. NNPCL announced that it was operating at 70 per cent capacity and expressly presented it as an achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership.“Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. Ojulari made the disclosure in February 2026 during a fireside chat at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, where he said NNPCL had halted operations after an internal assessment showed low utilisation, lack of a credible path to profitability and continued financial losses.Atiku said the admission had exposed what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s earlier presentation of the refinery rehabilitation programme.“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways. When the cameras were rolling in November 2024, his government told Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery was back. NNPCL announced that it was operating at 70 per cent capacity and expressly presented it as an achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership.“Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. Atiku said the admission had exposed what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s earlier presentation of the refinery rehabilitation programme.“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways. When the cameras were rolling in November 2024, his government told Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery was back. NNPCL announced that it was operating at 70 per cent capacity and expressly presented it as an achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership.“Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. “President Tinubu cannot have it both ways. When the cameras were rolling in November 2024, his government told Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery was back. NNPCL announced that it was operating at 70 per cent capacity and expressly presented it as an achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership.“Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. “Now that the celebration has turned into embarrassment, the same administration wants Nigerians to believe that the refineries are merely liabilities inherited from previous governments”, the statement partly read.The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. The NNPCL had indeed announced on November 26, 2024, that the old 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had begun loading petrol, diesel and kerosene. The company said at the time that the facility was operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity, with plans to increase utilisation to 90 per cent.Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. Atiku challenged Tinubu to take ownership of both the successes and failures recorded by his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he said.The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. The ADC candidate asked the Federal Government to explain how the refinery obligations increased by more than ₦4tn in a single year and what Nigerians obtained from the expenditure.Related NewsOsun poll’s outcome shows Tinubu will lose to Makinde in 2027 – APMOsun poll: Adeleke’s camp replies Keyamo, says no political deal with TinubuFG reaffirms commitment to security, diaspora engagement“Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. “Nigerians deserve answers. If the combined obligations of these refineries jumped by more than ₦4tn in 2024 alone, what exactly did Nigerians receive in return. Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised? And where is the refinery your government celebrated before television cameras”, Atiku asked.The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. The controversy comes against the backdrop of years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. The Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was presented by NNPCL in November 2024 as a major step towards restoring domestic refining capacity. NNPCL said the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy security.However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. However, questions persisted over the commercial viability and sustained operation of the government-owned facilities. By February 2026, NNPCL management said an assessment had established that continuing to operate the refineries under the prevailing structure would result in further losses, prompting the temporary shutdown of the state-owned plants.Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. Atiku said the development was particularly troubling because Nigerians were still paying high prices for petroleum products despite the huge sums committed to restoring domestic refining capacity. “Think about what ₦4tn could do for Nigeria,” he said, pointing to universities, hospitals, roads, electricity and potable water as areas that could have benefited from such resources.“Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. “Yet, trillions accumulate around refineries that the government itself now effectively acknowledges have been haemorrhaging public resources”, he added.He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. He described the situation as “an unforgivable failure of stewardship” and accused the administration of taking credit for projects when they appear successful while blaming predecessors when problems emerge. You cannot spend three years claiming credit for everything that appears to work and blaming your predecessors for everything that fails. Leadership does not work that way,” Atiku said.The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. The former vice president further argued that the refinery controversy had become symbolic of what he described as the broader performance of the Tinubu administration.“President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. “President Tinubu’s scorecard after more than three years is increasingly a story of fire and smoke — enormous expenditure, extravagant announcements and very little Nigerians can hold in their hands,” he said.Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he called “paying for failure”, insisting that the Tinubu administration should accept responsibility for the liabilities accumulated during its tenure.“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said. “Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors. After more than three years, you are no longer merely managing inherited liabilities. You are creating your own — and increasingly, your government itself has become the biggest liability Nigerians are being forced to carry,” he said.