Mambilla: Adesanya denies political ties to Atiku, Dasuki

Promoter of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, Leno Adesanya, has dismissed attempts to portray him as a political associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, describing the claims as efforts to misrepresent his interest in the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

Adesanya, in a statement on Monday, said his involvement in the controversial project was driven by his interest in seeing it completed, rather than by political connections or patronage.

Speaking amid renewed attention on the long-running Mambilla dispute, the businessman said his career had brought him into contact with people across different political and professional circles, but that such relationships should not be interpreted as evidence of political allegiance.

“I am a Yoruba man and more Tinubu than Atiku,” Adesanya said, reaffirming his support for President Bola Tinubu.

He said his support for Tinubu was based not only on his Yoruba background but also on his longstanding relationship with the President.

Adesanya said he wanted the Tinubu administration to succeed and had made repeated efforts to resolve the Mambilla dispute amicably.

“I wrote several times, even against the advice of my lawyers, to settle amicably towards the development of the project,” he said.

He described the attempts to link him with Atiku and Dasuki as the work of “mischief-doers and political detractors,” arguing that his relationships with individuals across the political divide should not be used to create a false narrative about his role in the project.

“Some of the dates of association have no significant relevance to the Mambilla hydro project,” he said.

Adesanya, who began his banking career with Citibank in the 1980s before moving into business, particularly the energy sector, said his overriding interest was the successful development of the Mambilla project.

• 2027: Tampolo movement donates 50 vehicles for Tinubu
• Northern presidential aspirants should wait till 2031 – Kano gov
• State police, miners’ deaths top agenda as N’Assembly resumes

The development comes against the backdrop of the long-running legal dispute between Sunrise Power and the Federal Government over the project.

The International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in Paris recently ruled in Nigeria’s favour in the dispute.

President Tinubu subsequently described the ruling as an important development for the delayed project and indicated that his administration would proceed with efforts to develop it.

The Mambilla project, located in Taraba State, is designed to become one of Nigeria’s major electricity-generation projects.

In 2017, the Federal Government signed a $5.792bn contract for its development, with the project originally designed to generate 3,050 megawatts of electricity.

The project has, however, faced years of contractual, financing and legal challenges under successive administrations.

Adesanya said the latest developments should provide an opportunity to move beyond the controversies and focus on the project’s potential contribution to Nigeria’s electricity supply and economic development.

He reiterated his desire to see the Mambilla project completed, stressing that its development should transcend political differences and competing narratives.

Adesanya also said he remained supportive of Tinubu and wanted the President to succeed in delivering the project.