Minister of State for Petroleum
Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, on Saturday got a tongue-lashing from the
national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, over his recent comments on the lingering fuel scarcity in the
country.
The former Governor of Lagos State took a
swipe at the minister, who is also the Group Managing Director of the
Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, for saying he was not a magician
who could end the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as
petrol.
The APC leader stated that the minister was answerable to Nigerians and not the other way round.
Tinubu stated this on Saturday in a
statement titled, ‘Kachikwu Needs to Know That Respect and Good
Performance Will Do What Magic Cannot.’
Referring to the minister, Tinubu said
he believed a member of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government
“has strayed from the progressive calling required of this
administration.”
Kachikwu had on Wednesday, while
speaking with State House correspondents shortly after he led a joint
delegation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers to
meet with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said since he was not
a magician, the fuel queues could not be eliminated with a magic wand.
He added that despite the efforts being
put in place by the Federal Government, fuel queues might not be
completely eliminated until about two months (May).
The minister noted that with the reality
on the ground, it was by sheer magic that the country had the amount of
products it currently had at the filling stations.
However, Tinubu, on Saturday, stated
that there might be no economic matter more difficult to unravel and
more sensitive to the purse of the average person than the current fuel
scarcity.
The APC leader said despite that, he was
confident of progress because he knew the commitment of the President
to resolving the issue.
“I make no attempt to hide it. I am an
avid and partisan supporter of this government and of the progressive
policies of the party, the APC, upon which this government is based,”
the ex-governor stated.
Tinubu added, “With that, I do reserve
the right and the duty as a Nigerian to voice my opinion when I believe a
member of this government has strayed from the progressive calling
required of this administration. I do this because my greater devotion
and love are for this nation and its people. Party and politics fall
secondary.
“Much public ire has been drawn to the
statement made by the Minister of State (for Petroleum Resources) Ibe
Kachikwu that he was not trained as a magician and that basically
Nigerians should count themselves fortunate that the NNPC under his
stewardship has been able to bring in the amount of petrol it is
currently doing.
“Perhaps the statement by Kachikwu was
made in a moment of unguarded frustration or was an awkward attempt at a
joke. Whatever the motive, it was untimely and off-putting. The remark
did not sit well with the Nigerian people; they were as right to feel
insulted as the minister was wrong to have said such a thing.
“The fuel shortage is severely biting
for the average person. They are forced to remain in lines far too long —
for too much time — to pay too much money for too little fuel. This is
no joking matter. Livelihoods and people’s welfare are at stake.
“With so much on the line, Kachikwu’s
flippancy was out-of-line. He was basically telling Nigerians that they
should be lucky that they are getting the inadequate supply they now
suffer and that they should just be quiet and endure the shortage for
several weeks more.”
Saying Kachikwu’s intervention was
unhelpful, the APC leader said it rather panicked and disappointed the
public as to the duration of the crisis.
“It insulted the people by its tonality.
He spoke with the imperious nature of a member of the elitist
government the people voted out last year and not the progressive one
they voted in,” he added.
Tinubu also said Kachikwu must be
reminded that he was not coerced to take the job, adding that the
minster accepted the job and its responsibilities “knowingly.”
The ex-governor said the NNPC GMD must
also remember that he does not own the corporation and that the NNPC was
not a private company that owes nothing to the public except the duty
of fair dealing.
Tinubu added, “He is a public servant.
The seat he sits upon is owned by Nigerians, not by him. The company he
runs is owned by Nigerians, not by him. They are his boss. He is not
theirs. Power is vested in the people. He is a mere custodian or agent
of their will.
“In talking to us in such a manner, he
committed an act of insubordination. If he had talked so cavalierly to
his boss in the private sector, he would have been reprimanded or worse.
If wise, the man should refrain from such interjections in the future.
“As his ultimate bosses, the people have
a right to demand the requisite performance and respect from him. He
should apologise for treating them so lightly in this instance.”
The APC leader noted that as Kachikwu’s
portfolio was a strategically important one, the minister needed to
re-establish the correct relationship with the public.
He said Nigerians no longer felt
Kachikwu was working for their optimal benefit as their servant.
“Instead, he seems to be standing above them, telling them to take it or
leave it,” Tinubu added.
The politician stated that for the
minister’s policies and stint in office to be successful and of help to
the government, he (Kachikwu) must have the support and belief of the
people at this tough time.
Tinubu said the NNPC boss must talk to
them in a way that they believe he seeks their best interest and
understands the hardship weighing upon them.
Source: Punch
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