Following the reconstitution of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited (NNPCL), Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) and a Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Transparency in Governance said they have uncovered a calculated campaign of calumny against the erstwhile NNPCL henchman.
Malam Mele Kyari has come under widespread criticisms following his ouster, with many berating his stewardship and calling for a forensic audit of his tenure with the aim of uncovering what happened during the subsidy regime he superintendent upon.
But in a fierce rebuttal, the Coalition through a press conference in Abuja which was anchored by its National Coordinator, Comrade Igwe Ude-umanta, vowed to put an end to the misguided, sponsored and nauseating campaign against a man whose level of service delivery was topnotch and without blemish.
“It is very sad and constraining when credible organisations like ours have to take the pain of responding to gibberish, like the reported protest asking for the trial of Mallam Mele Kyari, as staged by Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, a faceless organization. These are clearly sponsored individuals, with very nauseating and illogical message.
“Ordinarily, there is nothing in that protest and their watery and empty claims that should have elicited a response. However, this is a modest attempt to clarify some issues that the media and the public should already be aware of.
“Without mincing words, let it be known that under him, the former NNPC was formally unbundled, and for the first time, the nation’s oil company began to make gains. Under Mele Kyari, NNPCL foresaw transformations that led to the take off of local refining, including giving all support thereto. That record cannot be twisted.
“He must also be credited with overseeing the coming on stream of the decades-long moribund local public refineries. All campaigns to undermine that achievement has since been rubbished by the stakeholders of the Petroleum Industry, including: the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN), Nigeria Union of Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) as well as other major players in the industry.
“Even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is not only the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but also the Minister of Petroleum acknowledged and hailed the sterling achievements of Kyari. What can be more than this?
“Similarly, under Kyari, Nigeria battled oil theft to a standstill, moving crude production from less than 1 million barrels per day to to about 2 million barrels per day.
“It is, therefore, important to remind the so called Concerned Citizens Against Corruption that Malam Kyari was not sacked but ended decades of meritorious service with applause. It ended on a compulsory retirement time which is known.
“Let us also add for emphasis, that Mallam Kyari is aware that he can be called upon to render an account of his stewardship. He is not averse to it. But for mischief makers hiding under non-existent organisations to taint his character, because they believe that many Nigerians can be swayed with blackmail against the technocrat, our stern rebuttal is just a patroitic way of saying falsehood and mischief must not be allowed to go unchallenged”, the text read.
The Coalition equally challenged those whom they described as hirelings to come forth an engage them in a face-to-face debate if they’re convinced of their allegations and can prove them when subjected under public scrutiny.
“At our disposal hard facts and facts don’t lie. We challenge those peddling these allegations to a face-to-face debate if they are convinced about their claims. This challenge is open for the next 2 weeks. And if they cannot take it, they should shut up forever, because responsible Nigerians and the media cannot continue to waste time on outright mischief and cheap blackmail.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said Concerned Citizens Against Corruption asked the Attorney General of the Federation to try Malam Mele Kyari. And in the same breath asked that he should be investigated. The question is: how do you indict first and turn round to ask for investigation? Nobody is against investigation, assuming there is anything to investigate. Calling for the trial of somebody who has never been questioned by any anti-corruption agency is illogical and gross”, the text concluded.
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