Kachikwu: More Trouble As Unions Threaten To Disrupt Fuel Supply If Minister Stays

The ground seems to be shifting for the embattled Minister of State, Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, as the leadership of the major industrial unions in the oil and gas sector have threatened to disrupt the stability in the supply of petroleum products except President Muhammadu Buhari relieves him of his office.

The move, The WHISTLER learnt, is not unconnected with the clean bill of health given to the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Maikanti Baru, by the Presidency in the wake of the unsubstantiated letter to the president by Kachikwu.

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In all, the unions calling for the sack of the controversial Minister of State include; National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG).

Others are; Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMA), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

The groups contended that with the point- to- point clarification provided by the Presidency which undoubtedly cleared the air and indicted Kachikwu as a rabble- rouser, “the minister has lost all moral and credible integrity to lead or supervise the oil and gas industry as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, therefore it would do well for Mr. President to sack him without delay”.

A source close to the groups told our correspondent that the hawks in the unions have called for fuel disruption nationwide to force the hand of the president to remove the minister from his post.

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“I can tell you that the leadership of the tanker drivers is moving for total shutdown to press home their demands for Kachikwu’s resignation ahead of a planned meeting of downstream stakeholders scheduled for early next week,” the source hinted.

The president of National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Dr. Kassim Bataiya, had in a press statement said; “We would like to reiterate that the comment made by the Hon. Minister were an act of immaturity and an indirect affront on the personality of President Muhammadu Buhari who is the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources. It is absolutely ridiculous for him to say that he could not have access to the President even though he is a Cabinet Minister serving in the same Ministry where the President is the substantive Minister’.’

NARTO urged Kachikwu to take the exit door since his loyalty to his boss and the country can no longer be guaranteed.

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