The national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has lashed out at the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachukwu, for his utterances over fuel scarcity.
Tinubu
took a swipe at the Minister on Saturday, March 26, 2017 saying he has
not only strayed but needs to guide his utterances as a public servant.
The
Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation
was also accused of straying away from the progressive calling required
of the administration.
In
a statement by Tinubu titled, ‘Kachikwu Needs to Know That Respect and
Good Performance Will Do What Magic Cannot,’ he said, “I make no
attempt to hide it. I am an avid and partisan supporter of this
government and of the progressive policies of the party, the APC, upon
which this government is based.” 'With
that, I do 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.
'Much public
ire has been drawn to the statement made by the Minister of State (for
Petroleum Resources) Ibe Kachikwu that he 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 it is currently doing.
'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; they were as right to feel insulted as the minister was wrong to
have said such a thing.
'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,' the ex-governor stated.
Continuing, he said, '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.
'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.
'In
talking to us in such a manner, he committed an act of insubordination.
If he had talked so cavalierly to his boss in the private sector, he
would have been reprimanded or worse. If wise, the man should refrain
from such interjections in the future.
'As
his ultimate bosses, the people have a right to demand the requisite
performance and respect from him. He should apologise for treating them
so lightly in this instance. 'Instead, he seems to be standing above them, telling them to take it or leave it,' Tinubu added.
In conclusion, Tinubu said, 'He
must ask them to work with him and, perhaps, to endure a bit longer but
with the knowledge that he is working to resolve this matter as fast as
he can and as permanently as possible; that he is dedicated to the
position that once these current lines are gone, never again shall they
reappear, as long as he has any influence in the matter.
'To
do this requires no magic or training in that strange craft. It
requires empathy, compassion and the willpower to forge a better
Nigeria. These must be the common trademarks of those serving in a
progressive government, for these attributes are integral parts of the
spirit and ideals upon which the APC was founded,' Tinubu said.
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PLEASE BE POLITE