R-L: Kachikwu and Baru

• Accuses Baru of insubordination, non transparent policies

• Alleged that Aso Rock aides block him from seing Buhari

Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has stirred the honets nest. He alleged that some presidential aides were blocking him from seing President Muhammadu Buhari. Kachikwu accused the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, of insubordination, illegal practices and non transparent policies that can destroy the corporation and Nigeria’s oil industry, urged Buhari to urgently call Baru to order.

He made the allegation in a letter he addressed to Buhari and entitled: ‘MATTERS OF INSUBORDINATION AND LACK OF ADHERENCE TO DUE PROCESS PERPETUATED BY THE GMD NNPC – DR. BARU’. In his words: “I would have wanted to come personally after receiving you at the airport to felicitate with you and discuss matters herein contained. However, I have been unable to secure an appointment to see you, despite very many attempts”.

Kachikwu’s letter

The letter

The letter

Kachikwu said Baru’s misgivings were capable of hindering progress in the country’s petroleum sector or even reverse recorded strides.

“Parastatals in the ministry and all CEOs of these parastatals must be aligned with the policy drive of the ministry to allow the sector register the growth that has eluded it for many years. To do otherwise or to exempt any of the parastatals would be to emplace a stunted growth for the industry.”

Kachikwu also accused Baru of running NNPC like his personal property.
“The Board of NNPC, which you appointed and, which has met every month since its inauguration and, which by the statutes of NNPC is meant to review these planned appointments and postings, was never briefed. Members of the Board learnt of these appointments from the pages of social media and the press release of NNPC”

Kachikwu said he was tired of tolerating “disrespectful and humiliating conducts by the GMD”.

He submitted in the letter: ‘My prayers most humbly and respectfully are “That we save NNPC and the oil industry from collapse arising from the above non-transparent practices and empower the Board you inaugurated to do the needful.

“That you save the office of the Minister of State from further humiliation and disrespect by compelling all parastatals to submit to oversight regulatory mandate and proper supervision which I am supposed to manage on your behalf.

“You kindly instruct the GMD to effectively leave NNPC to run as a proper institution and report out along due process lines to the Board and that Your Excellency instructs that all reviews be done with the Minister of State, prior to your decision.

“That to set the right examples, you approve that the recently announced reorganisation changes be suspended until the GMD, myself and the Board have made relevant input to same. This will send a clear signal of process and transparency.

“These, in my view, Mr. President, will provide you balanced analysis on issues and avoid exposing the exalted office of Mr. President to ridicule. It will also reduce non-productive, unsubstantiated rumour peddling.

“Mr. President, I thank you for the opportunities given me to serve and I wish you continued full recovery. I remain loyal and very proud of you sir”.

The minister, however, has not denied the letter. In a statement posted by Omoniyi Akinsiju, signed by, Idang Alibi, Director of Press, Ministry of Petroleum Resources dated 3 October 2017, and entitled,
PUBLICATION OF A CONFIDENTIAL OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, he wrote:

“The attention of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has been drawn to a publication on a memo emanating from the HMSPR to the President.

Please note the following:

• The communication under reference is a normal procedural correspondence by the Minister to the President relating to developments in parastatals under his supervision.

• It is most distressing to the ministry of petroleum resources that a confidential communication to the President on the performance of one of its parastatals can be made public.

• The focus of the communication was on improving efficiency and deepening transparency in the oil and gas sector for continued investor confidence.

• It is noteworthy that the President has been fully supportive of the efforts of the Ministry to entrench good governance and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
• The Ministry of Petroleum Resources remains focused on achieving measurable progress in the implementation of the ongoing oil sector reforms in line with the mandate of the President.

Thank you.”