Group slams Tinubu over Kachikwu’s comment

Recall that Tinubu had lambasted the minister for saying that he had no magic to perform over the present oil scarcity experienced across the country.

The group, which described Tinubu’s comment as “unguarded”, alleged that Tinubu’s disapproval of Kachikwu’s candid statement that the fuel paucity will end by May 2015 was motivated by self-aggrandizement, parochialism and frustration for losing out in the APC power game especially in the appointment of a key figure in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

A statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Uche Okoronkwo said that Tinubu, being one of the key leaders of the ruling party should rather encourage Kachikwu in his effort at restructuring the NNPC and ensuring that the issue of fuel scarcity in Nigeria becomes a thing of the past and not to make denigrating statement that could dissuade the petroleum minister from continuing with the ongoing reform in the oil sector.

According to Okoronkwo, the innovations and initiatives introduced by Dr. Kachikwu to make the organization more profitable and result-oriented is commendable and should be supported by every concerned citizen.

The group appealed to the organized labour, national assembly and general public to support the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari in the petroleum industry.

The statement noted that “the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources has revived our moribund refineries, secured our pipelines and spectacularly saved Nigeria a trillion naira which would have corruptly enriched a few individuals through subsidy payments.

“Before now, the NNPC through Crude Oil Swap and Offshore Processing Arrangement have lost huge revenue as a result of corruption but Kachikwu’s introduction of the Direct Sales – Direct Purchase (DSDP) model has curbed graft and entrenched transparency in the crude oil production exchange transactions undertaken by the NNPC.

“We are appealing to the national assembly, the organized labour and the relevant stakeholders to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade especially in the oil sector by supporting the unbundling of the NNPC saying that this is the only panacea to improve the fortunes of our ailing cashcow.”

The group further appealed to Buhari to emasculate and rein in reactionary forces in the APC whose sole design is to accumulate wealth and influence at the expense of his people oriented government, noting that Tinubu’s caustic and self-serving reprimand of the group managing director of the NNPC is unbecoming of his status as APC national leader.

The group said it has passed a vote of confidence on Kachikwu, urging him not to be distracted by the coarse and unkind vituperation of Bola Tinubu saying that “Tinubu is playing to the gallery and notorious for sectionalism and self-aggrandizement.”

The coordinator urged Buhari to disregard the demand for Kachikwu sack, adding that he (Kachikwu) has performed excellently so far considering the numerous problems he inherited on assumption of office.