Niger Delta Group side Kachikwu, Says he Removal from NNPC is Unacceptable

The group in a statement by its President, Nelly Emma, kicked against the sudden removal of Dr Kachikwu as the GMD of NNPC by the President, describing it as unfair treatment not only to the hard-working technocrat, but to the entire people of the neglected oil rich Niger Delta region.

 “The whole world is our witness that we raised alarm in April this year that Baru was desperate to be GMD of NNPC and was mounting pressure on the President to sack Kachikwu and now we have been vindicated. “We are sad over the unfair treatment of Dr Kachikwu by the President.

The former GMD was committed to the total reform of NNPC of which Baru was against. By the sacking of the hard-working Dr Kachikwu and replacing him with Baru, it is now clear to us as a group and the whole world that the President is not serious about his promise to turn NNPC around for the better. “The appointment of Baru by the President is not in the best interest of the nation, but to satisfy the interest of the North.

The removal of Dr Kachikwu at a most sensitive time, has raised concerns among stakeholders in the region that the administration of President Buhari has remained adamantly unresponsive to the accusations by the militants that some of the local oil firms exploiting the hydrocarbon resources in the Niger Delta region and polluting the environment belong to non-indigenes of the oil producing communities.

“Last April, our findings revealed that the Adviser On Gas to the GMD of NNPC, was behind a devilish rumour that Dr Kachikwu was sacked.” He has been very desperate to become the GMD of NNPC and we warned President Buhari to be wary of him, but the President never listened. “It is unfortunate that the people of the oil-rich Niger Delta region are being treated this way.

Dr Kachikwu brought a lot of changes into NNPC and the cabal in the oil and gas industry never liked him and rather than encourage him to do more for the sector, the President decided to do otherwise. The President has once again made a big blunder with the appointment of Dr Baru who never wanted the reforms of NNPC embarked upon by Dr Kachikwu.”

“The President should have honoured Dr Kachikwu for his hard work. We must say that we are disappointed with the choice the President made for the NNPC. Can Dr Baru take a trip to the Niger Delta region? As the new GMD of NNPC, can he plead with rampaging militants in the Niger Delta region to give peace a chance and they will listen to him? The choice of Dr Baru as the man at the helm of affairs in NNPC by the President is not the best.