Anambra Confirms Staking N4B In Orient Petrol Refinery

… Says Governor Peter Obi Has No Stake In Plant

SAN FRANCISCO, September 10, (THEWILL) – The Anambra State Government on Monday said that it invested N4 billion in the just commissioned Orient Petroleum Refinery located in the state.

The government also debunked insinuations spreading in the social media that the State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi invested privately in the refinery.

A statement from the state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Joe Martins Uzodike described contrary reports as false, insisting that the state government invested in the refinery to enable citizens of the state benefit from the project. He further pointed out that it was the administration of former Governor, Dr. Chimwoke Mbadinuju that set up Orient Petroleum with prominent Anambra men like former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku as members of the board.

“The text message is a big insult on the intelligence of Ndi-Anambra, and Ndi-Igbo. They invested their personal monies in the project by way of shareholding, and as such, know that the oil company belongs to them.

“We frown at the criminal linkage of the name of Governor Peter Obi to Orient Bank, Orient Airline and the present Orient Petroleum because Anambra has passed that stage of such dirty politicking,” the government stated.

Just a few days ago, Obi’s critics accused him of using state funds totaling about N2 billion to prop up a local brewery, SABMiller, where he holds a sizeable stake. The brewery, which is a joint venture between a South African company, Obi’s NEXT International Limited and the state government, was recently commissioned by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.