Who benefits from privatisation?
Quite commonly major roads are posted with billboards sponsored by the National Council on Privatisation deceptively saying that ” the people benefit as the nation privatises”. The question however is: who are the people that actually benefit from the privatisation programme? Certainly, not the ordinary people and workers of the sold companies – who have subsequently lost their jobs, and left their numerous dependents with a bleak future. No doubt, friends of Obasanjo and Atiku are the prime beneficiaries of the privatisation exercise. Speculation is plentiful as per individuals fronting for key Government personnel in the sell-off proceeds. Recently, the National Assembly on the motion for impeachment of the President, revealed that Gbenga Obasanjo, his son, is a major contender for the purchase of the Mint Company. This is also the case with Alico Dangote, the billionaire merchant who donated heavily to the Obasanjo Campaign Fund in 1999; but has now bought the government’s Benue Cem
