Ibe Kachikwu at Aso Rock
Femi
Falana has reacted to the controversial letter written by Minister of
State in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to
President Muhammadu Buhari.
The people of Nigeria were surprised last week to read the
embarrassing petition of the Minister of State in the Ministry of
Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, addressed to President Buhari
pertaining to his inability to consult with the President and
substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources and the unilateral award of
$25 billion contracts by Mr. Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director
(GMD)n of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Although it was reported that Dr. Kachikwu has since been given
access to the President, the details of the discussions between the duo
have been not been made public. However, apart from sanctioning the
officers responsible for creating the wide gulf between Dr. Kachikwu and
the President, the allegation of the unilateral award of contracts
worth $25 billion by Dr. Baru ought to be investigated in line with the
anti-corruption policy of the Buhari administration.
In order to conduct a thorough investigation into the grave
allegations of the reckless contravention of the provisions of the
Public Procurement Act Mr. Baru should be placed on indefinite
suspension while the presidency should refer the case to the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission. And once it is confirmed that the said
$25 billion contracts were awarded without the approval of the NNPC
Board they should be revoked while the recent appointment of the heads
of the parastatals in the oil and gas industry should be reviewed in
line with the Constitution and the Federal Character Commission Act.
Curiously, the presidency has demanded for the minutes of the
meetings of the NNPC Board. This demand has confirmed that the meetings
of the Board which are statutory required to be chaired by the Minister
of Petroleum Resources have not been held as and when due. More
importantly, the demand has corroborated that aspect of Dr. Kachikwu's
petition alleging that the powers of the Board have been usurped by Dr.
Baru.
Therefore, the petition should provide an opportunity for the
President to reorganize the NNPC with a view to ensuring that it is
publicly owned in a manner that the Board is constituted by accredited
representatives of the oil producing communities and credible civil
society groups including the trade unions in the oil and gas industry.
Having regard to the enormous responsibilities of the office of the
Minister of Petroleum Resources and Chairman of the NNPC Board
President Buhari is advised to relinquish the ministerial position in
view of his busy schedule and appoint another Nigerian of proven
integrity and competence to superintend the affairs of the Ministry. If
this advice is accepted in good faith and acted upon without any delay
it would remove undue pressure on the health of the President and allow
him to attend to urgent matters of the State.
***
Written by Femi Falana
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