A
national leader of All Progressives Congress-APC and former governor of Lagos
state; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has called out the Minister
of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, for his insensitive utterances over
the on-going petrol scarcity in the country.
According to him, Kachikwu deserves to tender an unreserved
apology to Nigerians for his comments which he finds not only obnoxious but
disrespectful to the populace under whose trust the petrol minister holds his
office.
For
saying he was not a magician who could immediately end the scarcity of petrol,
Tinubu released a statement on Saturday, entitled: ‘Kachikwu Needs to Know That
Respect and Good Performance Will Do What Magic Cannot.’
The
minister was quoted to have said last week that he (Kachikwu) 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
fuel it is currently doing.
He
said that “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.
“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.
“Kachikwu's
intervention was unhelpful. It 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.
“Kachikwu
must be reminded that he was not coerced to take this job. He accepted the job
and its responsibilities knowingly. He also must remember that he does not own
NNPC. This also is not a private company that owes nothing to the public except
the duty of fair dealing.
“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.
The
former governor who described himself as “an avid and partisan supporter of
this government and of the progressive policies of the party, the APC, upon
which this government is based.” declared that he “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.”
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