By Abubakar Yunusa
The Niger Delta Peoples Assembly (NDPA), a civil society organisation (CSO), has cautioned a youth coalition against demanding the sack of Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
On Wednesday, some youths under the aegis of the Niger Delta Youth Alliance, took to the streets of Warri, Delta state, to demand the sack of Kyari.
However, in a statement on Saturday, Richard Okotie, national coordinator of the NDPA, described the coalition protest as a “charade” and a “joke in its entirety”.
Okotie alleged that the mastermind of the protest was a “frustrated monarch and illicit oil baron”.
He added that the “youths and their sponsor” were frustrated because Kyari refused to renew the “monarch’s pipeline contract when it expired a month ago”.
“The various names paraded as the group of misguided youths that took placards to the gates of NUPRC, were, Niger Delta Youth Association, Niger Delta Women for Change, Niger Delta Youth Empowerment Network & South South United Youth Association,” the statement reads.
“In a very poorly articulated address, they presented their grouse as financial impropriety; lack of vision, poor performance, and autocratic conduct, among others against the NNPCL GMD.
“This prompts the question of whether they are auditors appointed by Mr. President to study the books of the NNPCL.
“On the other hand, it would have helped their protest if they had an auditor’s report indicting the GCEO of NNPCL.”
On local production of oil, Okotie said Warri and Port Harcourt refineries would come on stream in December 2023.
“There is an increase in crude oil production in 2023 due to the ingenuity and commitment of the GMD, who launched a relentless war against oil theft and pipeline vandalism by local operators and international barons,” he added.
“His sincere efforts and patriotic zeal have been recognised and appreciated by all critical stakeholders within and outside the oil industry and indeed outside the shores of Nigeria.”
Okotie said the decision of President Bola Tinubu to retain Mele Kyari as GCEO of NNPCL is a confirmation of his “resourcefulness, astuteness and commitment” to the attainment of set goals.
“With this singular action of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it was very clear to discernible minds that Mr. President has an implicit confidence in the man Mele Kyari as an eminently qualified member of the team to deliver the vision and mission of the Renewed Hope mantra in the oil industry,” he said.
Okotie added that Kyari should be preserved to carry on his duties in the national interest.
