Reps to probe petition demanding sack of NNPCL executive

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has received and approved a petition from a socio-cultural group, Ezi Umuada Igbo, calling for the removal of Sophia Mbakwe, the Executive Vice President (Business Services) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), over claims that she is occupying a slot meant for the South East region while allegedly not being from the zone.
The petition, which was laid before the House during Thursday’s plenary by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), urged the lawmakers to investigate the alleged breach of the Federal Character Principle in Mbakwe’s appointment.
Addressed to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the petition expressed concern that the appointment of Mrs Mbakwe as the South East representative on the NNPCL management team contravened constitutional provisions meant to ensure equitable representation across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
Quoting from the petition, the group said: “While we wholeheartedly appreciate His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for considering an Igbo woman worthy of inclusion in such a strategic national position,
“We must respectfully but firmly express our concern that the said appointee, Mrs. Mbakwe, is not from the South East region and therefore cannot validly represent the zone in accordance with the Federal Character Principle enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
The Ezi Umuada Igbo Association, described as a foremost socio-cultural organisation of Igbo women within Nigeria and the diaspora, maintained that the South East has numerous qualified and competent women who can fill the role.
“We therefore urge the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and all relevant authorities to review this appointment and ensure that a qualified daughter of the South East—drawn from the rich pool of competent, experienced, and patriotic Igbo women across our five states is considered for the position,” the group added.