By Ezra Akinmade
The incessant vituperations and campaign of calumny by a faction of the defunct Conference of Nigeria Political Party (CNPP) and its promoters against the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and its group chief executive officer, Mele Kyari, is another show of shame by forces of darkness who are bent on destroying Nigeria’s prosperity.
The CNPP has continued to cast aspersions and make spurious allegations against Kyari since he took over as group managing director of the defunct NNPC in 2019, despite the visible achievements of the NNPC boss.
The devious group further increased its attack against the national oil company and its officials in 2023 when President Bola Tinubu assumed office and announced end to fuel subsidy payment.
The big question is, who are the CNPP and its promoters working for? The group should be reminded that, like many others, their evil agenda against the nation will fail. The blackmail and distortion of facts by the group that is founded on lies will surely fail as Nigerians are now wiser.
To state the obvious, CNPP and their sponsors are uncomfortable and envious of the unparalleled achievements recorded by the Kyari-led NNPC Limited as the results speak for themselves.
While civil and political organisations have the right to constructive criticisms of government policies, it becomes questionable when it is tainted with hate, vendetta, and ulterior motives.
The ‘bring down syndrome’ by Nigerians against performers will continue to eat deep into the nation’s development if not ‘killed’.
It is worthy of note that Kyari inherited a demoralised NNPC where corruption was the order of the day. He, however, turned around the misfortune of the defunct NNPC and took it to an enviable height with its TAPE (Transparency, Accountability, Performance and Excellence) agenda. Today, his initiatives save Nigerians millions of dollars monthly. Through the TAPE, Kyari has dutifully steered the NNPCL as an excellent, transparent, efficient, and responsible corporate entity. On the assumption of office, Kyari declared war against pipelines vandalization and crude oil theft. This soon yielded positive results as Kyari was the first GMD of the NNPC to declare profit to the federal government.
Under intense pressure and scrutiny, the NNPCL has become a world-class institution capable of competing with the best and brightest in the global energy industry.
There is no doubt that Kyari is a leader of vision and courage, and a man whose matchless exploits have transformed the Nigerian oil and gas industry for the better. His legacy will endure for generations to come, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps and build on his remarkable achievements.
Kyari’s vision to establish a strong and virile energy sector and deliver uninterrupted power to all Nigerians is sacrosanct. He has attracted so many local and foreign investors into our oil and gas sector. Additionally, the recent award conferred on him by President Bola Tinubu is a testament to his hard work and dedication in the sector. The Presidential CNG Initiative (PI-CNG) is another example of Kyari’s commitment to driving the implementation of CNG across Nigeria.
The NNPC Ltd in conjunction with the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), on Monday, donated 10 CNG-powered buses to the Federal Government. The buses, manufactured locally by Innoson Motors, are expected to reduce transportation costs, boost productivity, and save Nigeria trillions of naira currently spent on PMS (premium motor spirit).
CNPP should, therefore, seek to align with this vision and stop being a tool in the hands of economic saboteurs and forces of evil. No matter the lies and hate, it will bring down a man who has sacrificed and put in so much to the even transformation of Nigeria’s oil and energy sector.
Kyari and the NNPCL team should know that Nigerians are solidly behind them and therefore must remain focused and steadfast in their commitment to excellence.
-Akinmade, an analyst writes from Lagos, Nigeria
