Group Defends Kyari Over Alleged NNPCL N20bn Payment To Ghost Consultants
- Says NYCN, critics got things wrong
BY VICTOR BUORO – A Group known as Promoters of Good Governance (PGG) In Oil & Gas Sector has stoutly defended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) against the allegations of paying about N20 billion to so-called ghost consultants in the nation’s oil sector.
The group has described the allegations as not only lacking in “verifiable source and authenticity” but aimed at tarnishing the good image of the NNPCL’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari, known for his “transparency, uprightness, dedication and patriotism”.
Reacting to a publication attributed to the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) by an online media platform, PGG maintained that the allegations are “fictitious, grievous unfounded and was only aimed at distracting the positive progress of the highly improved company”.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Salis, the PGG said as “a compendium of transparency in the oil and gas sector” and having remained so in his many years in the field of oil and gas sector, Kyari would not tolerate illegality to occur under his watch given his disposition as a “stickler of transparency and accountability.”
Specifically, the PGG stated that having introduced an agenda titled: “Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE)”, the Kyari-led management team should be encouraged and supported to turn around the moribund organisation, rather than promoting those bent on ensuring the continuation of the old order of illegality, through “dubious practices, lack of transparency or lack of accountability.”
According to Alhaji Salis, “When Kyari emerged as CEO of the NNPCL, the oil and gas sector begun to witness robust transformations and there was growing hope and confidence building among stakeholders, which some disgruntled elements are now hell bent to tarnish, using remotely faceless civil society organisations that are not conversant with the goings on in the sector.
One would have hoped that, instead of dissipating energies aimed at destroying the good work of the CEO, by the NYCN and their paymasters, their attention should rather be set on how to make the oil and gas sector the best for the country, by joining hands with the Mele Kyari led management that charts a new course in the oil and gas sector of the country.”
He noted that President, Muhammad Buhari appointed Kyari on the basis of merit and competence to turn around the ‘moribund’ organization, which he has started since his first appointment, adding; “In all his years as CEO, Kyari had always aimed at changing the negative perception of the organisation, while keeping abreast with the global best practices.
“Now that the nation’s oil and gas sector has started getting out of the woods with a glimmer of hope for the country, a pocket of armchair critics are busy promoting sentimental ill feelings to destroy the good work, using faceless organizations to achieve their negative objectives.”
The PGG also said Kyari being a public officer, who would never join issues with the NYCN, individuals or other groups on either the pages of newspapers or on any media platform, remains focused on the silent achievements being recorded in the organization, which many thought were impossible to occur.
Speaking further, Alhaji Salis said; “But as NNPCL, under Kyari is making waves in the oil and gas industry by keeping to its mandate which is making the sector functional in the best interest of Nigerian citizens and the country at large, we feel duty bound to correct the erroneous impression of calling him to step aside, as presented by the NYCN civil society organisation. To say the least, the call is uncalled-for, misleading and unpatriotic.
“As promoter of accountability and transparency, Kyari has been reputed at welcoming every oversight by the legislative body, even without notice and invitations from the lawmakers. He always clarified issues at every invitation but would never succumb to the antics of those who are out to destroy his good works.
If the calls for his stepping aside are sincere, why can’t the NYCN and their paymasters follow due process instead of planning to cause commotion in the country?
“Of course, the category of people who sees nothing good in the giant strides as initiated by the Chief Executive Officer are doing so in constant fears that their negative ways of doing things were over, hence, are now calling for the head of the CEO instead of following due process to channel their grievances, if any.
“What make the Mele Kyari leadership very unique is his handling and the opening of the books of NNPC in a way never seen as a means of ensuring transparency and accountability in the country with constant financial reporting.
“Therefore those calling for Kyari’s head because of what they perceived as irregularities in handling and alleged manipulation of the fuel subsidy, should avoid causing commotion in the country, while using disgruntled groups in achieving their nefarious plans.
“So far, Mele Kyari has written his name in gold. He has chart a new course in the oil and gas sector of the country and the sector can never forget him in a hurry.”
The PGG warned that those uncomfortable with Kyari’s “leadership style are bound to fail woefully, as no slur or mud could stick to his unblemished reputation” as well as patriotic desire to ensure zero tolerance for indiscipline, corruption and lawlessness in the nation’s oil and gas sectors.
