“This government has taken it to the next level” — Kenneth Okonkwo

He flagged their banner when they first swept the country, but now Nollywood actor turned politician Kenneth Okonkwo stands as the All Progressive Congress’s greatest critic.

The Nollywood actor turned Labour Party (LP) chieftain criticized the Nigerian government over its handling of investment claims, emphasizing the importance of security and energy in attracting foreign investments.

Okonkwo’s comments came in response to the controversy surrounding the alleged $600 million investment by Danish shipping and logistics company, A.P Moller-Maersk, in Nigeria’s seaport infrastructure.

Initially, a statement from the presidential media team claimed that President Bola Tinubu had secured the investment during a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh over the weekend.

However, Maersk officials later refuted the existence of a signed deal, stating that discussions with the Nigerian government were ongoing, but no concrete investment plans had been established.

Responding to the conflicting reports, Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, defended the government’s stance, asserting that Maersk had not explicitly denied the FG’s statements.

“APC came in through propaganda lies, and this government has taken it to the next level. That Maersk denied any plans to invest $600m after the presidential media team parroted their lies showcases the cluelessness of this government in everything it does.”

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the situation, Kenneth Okonkwo took to his social media handle to criticize the inconsistency in the government’s information dissemination. He referenced previous instances of alleged misinformation, such as the Dubai visa restoration saga in 2023, and accused the current administration of propagating lies.

“The most troubling is that Maersk’s shares started depreciating at the prospect of investing in Nigeria. This government has made us a toxic nation in the comity of nations. We are yet to recover from the Dubai visa restoration lies and others. Nobody will invest in a country without security and energy. Enough of the lies.” 

Kenneth Okonkwo highlighted the detrimental impact of the government’s actions on Nigeria’s reputation and investor confidence. He argued that without adequate security and energy infrastructure, foreign investors would be reluctant to commit to projects in the country.