The management of Mikano International Limited, promoters of Mikano Generators, has refuted reports that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) owns the company.
Several posts had circulated, especially on social media, claiming that Atiku was the key sponsor of the firm.
Established in 1993, Mikano is a Nigeria-based company that deals in power-generating products, sales, servicing, maintenance, overhauling, and rentals of gas power-generating sets, among other services.
The company’s documents also indicated that Nidal Karameh, Muneer Nassr, and Abou Fadi were the current directors of the firm.
In a statement released on Sunday, signed by Firas Mamlouk, the Managing Director of Mikano International Limited, the company clarified that it was not affiliated with the presidential candidate in any way.
The attention of the management of Mikano International Limited, promoters of Mikano Generators (amongst other products), has been drawn to numerous articles and press statements stating that the company is owned by/affiliated with HE Atiku Abubakar. This disclaimer is a notice to the general public that the news does not represent the facts as they concern Mikano International Limited.
“Please be informed that Mikano International Limited is not owned, affiliated, associated, authorised, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with HE Atiku Abubakar. Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard the news,” the power firm stated.
The recurring accusation arose approximately five years after Atiku personally denied the initial allegation that he owned the generator manufacturing company and therefore wouldn’t fix the power sector in the country, even if elected, due to a conflict of interest.
“Young friend, this is not true, but you tweeted it all the same. I own bigger companies and they’re known publicly, why would I deny this one?” Atiku had queried.
He also went on to list all the companies he had an interest in, further dispelling rumours that the companies only became active when he was Nigeria’s number two man, stressing that some of the firms had been operational since the 1980s.
“Intels was already Nigeria’s biggest indigenous oil & gas logistics firm before 1994. This is why the military government tried to seize it,” he told a tweep, who accused him of deploying government funds to promote his businesses.
