OpeOluwani Akintayo
03 October 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – A letter being circulated on social media platform, Twitter, on Tuesday, indicated that Kachikwu had written the letter on August 30, where he said Baru’s inability to submit to constituted authority could hamper the development of the oil sector.
The minister has confirmed writing the letter, which was obviously leaked.
“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,” Kachikwu wrote. “To do otherwise or to exempt any of the parastatals would be to emplace a stunted growth for the industry.”
According to Kachikwu, Baru exhibited “disrespectful and humiliating conducts” towards him.
According to the minister, Baru had taken some steps, including the recent massive shakeups in NNPC without first notifying him.
“Mr President, yesterday like many other Nigerians, I resumed work confronted by many complications of massive changes within NNPC. Like the previous reorganisations and repostings done since Dr. Baru resumed as GMD, I was never given the opportunity before the announcements to discuss these appointments. This is so despite being Minister of State Petroleum and Chairman, NNPC Board,” he added.
Kachikwu then warned of the effects of reckless disregard for existing regulations in the entrance of technological advancements, which could make fossil fuel go out of demand in years to come.
The minister then urged Buhari to order the NNPC GMD to make adjustments on five issues that range from strict deference to the NNPC Board of Directors, which he heads, to unfettered collaboration among all agencies in the petroleum sector.
Calls put through to NNPC’s spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu, were not answered. Text messages sent to him, as at time of publication, were likewise not replied.
But, the minister has owned up to writing the leaked letter.
In a release signed by the Director of Press Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Idang Alibi, and made available to SweetcrudeReports today, the ministry described the letter as “a normal procedural correspondence” by the minister.
According to the statement, it was unfortunate that such official memo written by Kachikwu to President Buhari, was leaked to the public.