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Tinubu blasts Kachikwu

By Saxone Akhaine (Northern Bureau Chief), Ali Garba (Bauchi), Auwal Ahmad (Gombe), Abba Anwar and Murtala Muhammed (Kano), Kelvin Ebiri and Ann Godwin (Port Harcourt), Charles Coffie Gyamfi (Abeokuta), Charles Akpeji (Jalingo), John Akubo (Lokoja), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu), Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City), Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan), Tunji Omofoye (Osogbo), Paul Adunwoke (Lagos)
27 March 2016   |   3:02 am
The National Leader of APC and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has condemned comments by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu's recent statements.
Crowd at a fuel station in Lagos yesterday (Inset: a man leaping over a fence with a gallon of fuel.) PHOTOS AYODELE ADENIRAN

Crowd at a fuel station in Lagos yesterday (Inset: a man leaping over a fence with a gallon of fuel.) PHOTOS AYODELE ADENIRAN

• Your flippancy is out-of-line • You do not own NNPC • You’re bad advertisement for APC govt
• Petrol shortage sours Easter celebrations • NLC calls for minister’s resignation

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has condemned comments by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu “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.

In a statement sent to The Guardian, and titled, ‘Kachikwu Needs To Know That Respect And Good Performance Will Do What Magic Cannot’, the former Lagos State Governor insisted he is “an avid and partisan supporter” of the President Buhari-led government and of the progressive policies of the APC.

With that, Tinubu said he reserves “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.”

He said: “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.

“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. 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.

“His portfolio being a strategically important one, he needs to reestablish the correct relationship with the public. They no longer feel he is working for their optimal benefit as their servant. Instead, he seems to be standing above them, telling them to take it or leave it. For his policies and stint in office to be successful and a help to this government, he must have the support and belief of the people at this tough time. He must talk to them in a way that they believe he seeks their best interest and understands the hardship weighing upon them. 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 that 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. Upon such notions was this administration voted into office by the Nigerian people in the operation of their sovereign will to seek a national leadership that would pursue their interests to the utmost and give them every fair chance to live in a better Nigeria.

“Even though times are hard, we must all realise that they would be even harder and much darker had we allowed the venal, kleptocracy of the PDP to continue to lord over the land solely for their selfish benefit and not for the common good.

“I am confident that President Buhari and this government can resolve the issues that press us. From establishing full security and safety to staking a claim to true economic prosperity and fairness, this government shall salvage our national pride and purpose.

Let all of us, in and out, of government never forget this. If we adhere to this remembrance, we shall see that magic will not be needed to bring the progress we seek.”

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Issa Aremu, also criticised Kachikwu over comments by the latter that it is cheaper for the nation to import fuel from overseas than refine it locally.

“We condemn it and call on him to withdraw this unhelpful statement, failing which we demand he should resign,” said Aremu, who noted “with regret that Nigeria spends as much as $10bn yearly on importation of petroleum products.”

Delivering a communiqué at the 11th delegates’ conference of the National Union of Textile, Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) in Kaduna, Aremu stressed: “I see no reason why Nigeria cannot build a modern refinery that will improve petroleum capacity,” adding that continuous importation is the agenda of a cabal whose desire is self gratification rather than the welfare of the masses.

The expectations of many Nigerians for a stress free Easter celebration, meanwhile, have been dashed by the ongoing fuel scarcity, which in the last 24 hours took a turn for the worse.

In many parts of the country, the very few stations that sold Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), yesterday, were attended by long queues, as frustrated buyers struggled to get the costly product ahead today’s festivities.

In Kaduna, many motorists were forced to patronise black market dealers at exorbitant prices, as few fuel stations had the product. At the independent filling stations along Kachia, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Junction Roads long queues of motorists was the order of the day, as a litre was sold for N145-N155.

Major marketers, like Mobil along Independence Way and Total at Ahmadu Bello Way, sold the product at the official price of N86 per litre. On the queues at both stations, however, were motorists, like Mallam Yinusa Abbas, who told The Guardian he had been waiting patiently for two days.

A well-intentioned directive of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) unwittingly compounded the scarcity in Bauchi. The outfit had threatened to arrest and prosecute unscrupulous filling station operators and roadside sellers.

Armed with their money, would-be buyers are still not able to lay their hands on the product, as sellers have gone underground. Consequently, a four-litre gallon, which used to be N500-600, now sells for N1,100-N1,200.

In Gombe State, black marketers are selling the product for N250 per litre, while filling stations are dispensing at N170, amid buyers’ uncertainty over the genuineness of the commodity. Fares, meanwhile, have gone up. A trip from Gombe to Bauchi, formerly N800, has climbed up to N1000. Gombe to Bajoga, which used to be N250 is now N500.

Some marketers who spoke to The Guardian in Port Harcourt disproved claim by officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources that most filling stations have fuel but are refusing to sell it. The marketers explained that they purchased their product from independent depots; hence the DPR should not expect them to sell at the official price.

At fillings stations in Eleme, Rumuokoro, Rumuodumaya, Rukpokwu, Eliozu, Omoku, Ahoada, old Port Harcourt and Worji, a litre of petrol was sold being for N150 and above.

Four litres of petrol in Kano yesterday was sold for N800-N900, as black marketers took advantage of the scarcity to multiply profit.

The stations of many major and independent marketers in the metropolis were locked up. And at the few stations that sold, the queues were long.

The chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Kano, Alhaji Bashir Dan Mallam, blamed the scarcity on failure of the NNPC to supply the product to Kano.

62 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    To be an Igbo man and in this administration and party is to have signed the warrant of insult. The scourge of power outage is worst than the scarcity of fuel right now, yet Tinubu thinks he could only exercise his power on Kachi. How about Fashiola and your finance minister? What do you say about the general outlook of the economy without any articulated program for its revival?

    • Author’s gravatar

      This is not about ethnicity. If Fashola too open his mouth in a way that is not in line with party ideology. He must be called to order.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Dr. Kachukwu has right and should immediately respond to this animal tribal ape from Yoruba land. Since Tinubu called himself a private citizen and used the public forum to lunch an unprecedented and unwarranted attack on the character and personality of Dr. kachukwu it will about to stpidity and foolishness fro Dr. Kachukwu not to attack the fool back. Tinubu is always threatened by brighter minds, because he wants to be the center of attention. He probably has been trying to dominate oil blocks, which the honorable minister has refused, so he felt he has a window of opportunity to lash out at him. It will cowardice for Dr. kachukwu not to respond in kind to this animal called Tinubu.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Insensitive remarks and insensitive reprimands. This is an Industry that has faltered from day one. Some interests may be working very hard to hijack the change momentum. It is absolute tinkering for any Party leadership to draw the ‘first guns’. This man is not some kind of a god who can by the snap of his fingers erase years of downward cascading mismanagement. Very much has been done to set NNPC working. We all know when changes are made, there is something like a cooling-off period for progress or even failure to register. The Government has been in office for a mere 10 months. Aren’t we jumping the guns? Agreed, waiting in such circumstances hurts everyone but is that enough to count our chickens before they hatch? There are so many miseries in our plate. Fuel scarcity can happen any where given a prevailing situation. It is the theory of relativity and the hedonist sentiments things we can control that are at work here. The May he is promising is just two months away or are we doubting his projections. If I were the public, I’ll be more concerned of the Roads on which the fueled vehicles will be driven than the short term dearth of Petroleum products. I am concerned the leadership better not continue in this line of criticism in order not to deflect the public outrage on themselves.

    • Author’s gravatar

      I think you are not towing the line of argument of Asiwaju. He is advising the Minister to mind the way he talks to the public regarding the kind of office he occupying and also to know that he has to save the face of a polical party. Whether you are a technocrat or politician as soon as you accept to work then you must learn the rudiments and work accordingly .

      • Author’s gravatar

        I am saying that if Kachikwu addressed Nigerians the way Tinubu quoted him, it was insensitive and that Tinubu’s reprimand was also insensitive coming from the ruling party leader of our government.

        • Author’s gravatar

          You are very correct my brother. Don’t mind the chronic ethnic bigot. Is the jagabandit god, that doesn’t err? If want you to corect someone, must it be in this form, with such a lenghty epistle, in the public domain? Afterall the guy Kachikwu remains the best performing of all Buhari’s ministers. He said the truth, but in a childish and condescending way.

          • Author’s gravatar

            Yes, my brother, we can only hope this is not a split in the governing Party. How can a head of a Party undercut its Executive in government, more so when the President has the Petroleum Ministry?

      • Author’s gravatar

        Please ignore this Muazi or whatever he calls himself. We all know why he is bitter. The Ibos lost out in the Power game and they are still sulking
        The Ibo man will never condemn his fellow Ibo man.That was why Ironsi never dealt with his Ibo murdering foot soldiers led my the mad Nzeogwu.
        Don’t waste your precious time talking to him.

        • Author’s gravatar

          Winning power is one thing and what you do with it in the context of one Nation under God/Allah is a different matter. Look what you have done with Nigeria in your fifty six years of dominating power. You aught to be ashamed of your little mind. Go to my posts and be taught how to look at issues. @’Alhaji’ Alugijo.

          • Author’s gravatar

            You this people still think you are smart. Nigerians can decipher the theme of your write-up.
            I wouldn’t argue with you about maturity of the mind because your values are different.
            So no need to compare oranges to apples.What is the basis. To you criminality is handwork. The end justifies the means.
            To other tribes in Nigeria, there is dignity in poverty. Whereas the Ibo man will rather commit crime than die poor. So our values are different.
            Also never judge a book by its cover, I am not an Alhaji. For your info, there are lots of Arabs who are Christians and more spirit filled compared to the cowardly Christians in Nigeria

          • Author’s gravatar

            I am looking at your picture post, that’s why a deferred to you as an ‘Alhaji’. And you of course, spelled Igbo as ‘IBO’ like some like to frolic in. But sometimes, Book Covers exquisitely, in a nutshell define what you are about to read. If what is happening in France, Belgium, Britain, The United States, Turkey, Syria(which has a Christian population) are barometers, I agree to be a Christian coward. But remember there are lots of these populations who are Muslims. And that valor does not mean the massacre of unbelieving individuals to make a point.

          • Author’s gravatar

            The use of Ibo is intentional. I presume you don’t know the difference. I advice you ask around what Zik meant when he said your tribe is not Igbo but IBO(I before Others).
            That aside, I will take you on the Christianity issue. Nigeria’s brand of Christianity encourages cowardice.
            Without apologies our Pastors in the south west of Nigeria have infused the Yoruba culture of fear into Christianity.
            Our people fear everything under the SUN. The sad part is that this culture of fear in Christianity has crept into all parts of the south.
            Jehovah God repeatedly decreed in the Bible “Fear Not” but Nigerian Christians fail to realize that Jehovah God is a God of war.

            Let God arise and his enemies be scattered.

            This is not a statement of pleasure. But our so called Christians will prefer the angels to carry weapons are defend their rights for them

            When you talk to them , they tell you their weapons of war are not carnal, yet up till today the Jews are still fighting to defend the land God gave to them.

          • Author’s gravatar

            How many Christian Churches have you visited in Igboland no to talk of how they worship?

          • Author’s gravatar

            Please be serious. I am not talking about the mode of worship.Jesus did not create any church.But christains can gather to worship God in any mode or format which is purely a denominational thing.
            The Pastors in Nigeria prefer members who are forever scared and afraid so that they can be continuously exploited It is same everywhere be it Iboland or Ijebu land.
            My virtue of my work, there is hardly no city I have not stayed in the East and Niger Delta.
            Some pastors will even tell you not to demand for your right but rather pray and wait for God to come and get your right for you.

          • Author’s gravatar

            Jesus is the Christian Church Himself. How else could He have created another, @Alugijo? Please do not reply.

      • Author’s gravatar

        ‘…the line of argument of Asiwaju’ is not a truck. I am toeing his line of argument as being incipient. As head of a ruling Party, he should have asked to speak with the President on the matter before going public.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Nobody is talking about the reintroduction of Kerosene subsidy. We are all dummies, and these politicians and their partners will always take us for granted!

      • Author’s gravatar

        The subsidy is chained with a law now. The fear is things do not happen in a vacuum. Are there devious schemes to scuttle the well worth revelations we are going through now or are the caged barons of the Industry staging a vicious comeback? Isn’t time our public officials weigh and time their public policy statements with wisdom?

  • Author’s gravatar

    Tinubu is a man of the people
    Anyway you look at it. Buhari had better get closer to him. A word is enough for the wise. All the new hangers on close to Buhari is why the nation is down, even worse than Jonathans time.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Buhari has no need for Tinubu until 2019, if at all Tinubu will be relevant by then. It is Tinubu that needs to get closer to Buhari to save himself before Buhari will start probing him.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Tinubu chided Kachikwu on his statement. And on his performance. Let’s not mix them up.

    On his statement, Tinubu feels the minister ‘insulted’ the people. He could have privately called him to order. Except their is a hidden message, which I think there is. Since when did Tinubu become the people’s spokesperson?

    If Kachikwu insulted us, so did Lai Mohammed, an adult and minister who have repeatedly told us lies. An example is when he came to tell us the budget was not padded. And the very next day the President said he will punish those that padded the budget. Apart from many other untruths. Pray, Who chided Lai? Or was Tinubu on a moon shuttle then?

    On performance, I agree with Tinubu that Kachikwu has not risen up to the challenges of his portfolio. However I make bold to say that he is but a minister of state. Tinubu should have chided the petroleum minister, Muhamadu Buhari, on performance. Not Kachikwu. This APC penchant for passing the buck is a ‘wash’! The Minister of petroleum is Buhari, not kachikwu!

    Kachikwu had made a condescending statement, which if we have any affinity to truth, was first made by the presidency! But Tinubu chides Kachikwu, but not the presidency.

    Fuel scarcity has never lasted this long in a stretch since 1999, and Tinubu comes out to lambasted the minister of state, but not the minister! What a con performance.

    We demand an apology from Tinubu for taking our intelligence and sensibilities for granted. An apology from Kachikwu for his slip of talk. An apology from APC for promising what they couldn’t deliver. And an apology from Buhari for travelling all over the globe while Nigeria was submerging.

    My name is Olisa Akukwe. And I just want to #StopNonsense.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Mr T should first of all apologize to gullible unemployed youths, on behalf of APC, for lying and deceiving them over the N5, 000 stipend. Which Nigerians is he speaking for, the same gullible youths that were used, deceived and dumped?You talked about Kachikwu’s performance and why has Mr T never blasted the minister of power over dwindling electricity supply or the finance minister over ” budget Padding” ? Dr kachikwu is a technocrat, NOT a politician and therefore cannot learn how to decieve or embelish the facts like some APC leaders,

    • Author’s gravatar

      Listen, you are the President who has the Petroleum Ministry portfolio. The head of your party pounced on your Minister of State in the Industry over your head and made blistering public commentaries even in the event of the Minister of State misspeaking. Why can’t he go through the President and request to talk to Kachikwu or outrightly, subtly, request a meeting with him and vent his displeasure? The public is whining anyway so what the BOT chair said is not new but the manner and capacity it was conveyed is wrong. The change metamorphosis require some patience and some pain for things to come to a heading.

    • Author’s gravatar

      It wasn’t the presidency that talked it was kachikwu that deserves the spoken words from the APC leader.
      The APC leader is still right and did the right thing. No matter how you sees it.

      • Author’s gravatar

        Why has he not called Fashola out on the darkness that has enveloped the whole country on account of zero electricity generation? Area boys will continue to be area boys no matter their position.

    • Author’s gravatar
  • Author’s gravatar

    Dr Kachickwu is only a minister of state. Tell the Supreme Minister of Petroleum that much. . ApesC can continue to blame former administration for every woman that has miscarriage in Nigeria. The packs will surely fall, sooner or later

  • Author’s gravatar

    God, can you explain to me why Nigerians can never set aside ethnicity in dealing with issues related to my beloved country Nigeria? Haba. Ethnicity over shadows everything in this country. Why Na?

  • Author’s gravatar

    APC was long dead on arrival, nothing good can come out from Buhari, Tinubu and the bunch of losser in governement. Worthlessness is a common trait to these bunch of fools

  • Author’s gravatar

    Nigerian’s are like a widow woman, you can’t please them. If you marry a widow and take good care of her she will cry and rain curses on her dead husband for not taking good care of her when he was alive. Again if you marry her and refuse to take care of her she will start carrying again, praising the long dead husband for taking good care of her when he was alive. Basically NO ONE CAN PLEASE US IN THIS COUNTRY

  • Author’s gravatar

    Regardless of ethnic or party affiliation, Kachikwu is doing a great job in making sure he delivers petroleum products for the country but that comment shouldn’t have been altered. I’m seeing it as a learning process for him on how to deal with the public (Nigerians). We should not condemn him too much but see him as a child that need to be caution and encourage to achieve the objective of delivery steady supply of oil and at a cheaper rate.

  • Author’s gravatar

    HOW TINUBU MISSED THE POINT ON KACHIKWU

    The National Leader of the APC over the weekend descended very heavily on the Ministerof state for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, for alleged unguarded and insensitive comments on the perennial fuel scarcity brought upon Nigerians by the Buhari government since the last quarter of 2015.
    Most people agree with the Jagaban on the insensitive nature of the “Kachikwu joke”. I substantially do too!

    Hear him, “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.

    “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. 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.

    “His portfolio being a strategically important one, he needs to reestablish the correct relationship with the public. They no longer feel he is working for their optimal benefit as their servant. Instead, he seems to be standing above them, telling them to take it or leave it. For his policies and stint in office to be successful and a help to this government, he must have the support and belief of the people at this tough time. He must talk to them in a way that they believe he seeks their best interest and understands the hardship weighing upon them. 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 that 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. Upon such notions was this administration voted into office by the Nigerian people in the operation of their sovereign will to seek a national leadership that would pursue their interests to the utmost and give them every fair chance to live in a better Nigeria.

    Tinubu’s commentary was even more edifying, in a time partisan blindness, when he established a clean break from such narrow-mindedness and declared himself an alluring patriot and a Nigerian statesman worthy of eternal emulation.
    Tinubu said he reserves “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.”

    Unfortunately, Jagaban mysteriously derailed from this ennobling track for no sensible reason than, probably, an urge to redeem some modicum of public respect and confidence for the APC, which evidently has lost more political capital through a consistent display of planlessness and crass incompetence than even its extreme opponents could have contemplated, a few short months ago. This he did by attempting a weak and non-contextual connection of the PDP to the “undemocratic excesses” of a rapidly evolving fascist regime of the APC.

    He said, “Even though times are hard, we must all realise that they would be even harder and much darker had we allowed the venal, kleptocracy of the PDP to continue to lord over the land solely for their selfish benefit and not for the common good.

    “I am confident that President Buhari and this government can resolve the issues that press us. From establishing full security and safety to staking a claim to true economic prosperity and fairness, this government shall salvage our national pride and purpose.

    Let all of us, in and out, of government never forget this. If we adhere to this remembrance, we shall see that magic will not be needed to bring the progress we seek.”

    With the greatest of respect to the “Lion of Bourdillon”, the APC has a responsibility to deliver on its over 3000 promises to Nigerians and would do well to keep its eye on the ball than this compulsive and overburdened recline into the past.

    The “issues that press us” cannot be resolved by PMB and the APC by the continual bashing of the PDP which has long yielded power. The only reason the APC is in government today is because they laid alluring claims to some magical and often esoteric “solutions” of the problems of the Nigerian nation.
    Tinubu, an accomplished chartered accountant is well aware that “sunk costs” or irretrievable expenditure in whatever quantum add no value to corporate plans and bottom line. He is in the know that clear plans/policies, focused implementation and diligent monitoring systems are the basic parameters for productive governance.

    Can he, in clear conscience and at the risk of personal integrity, point to the PMB/APC policies on any sector of the economy, including the petroleum sector to “support his confidence that President Buhari and this government can resolve the issues that press us”?

    The PDP in government had its many problems, it made a basketful of mistakes and even substantial indiscretions for which it has been punished dearly by the Nigerian people, through the 2015 polls. But it had clear cut policies in every economic sector.

    The petroleum industry was to be unbundled through a Petroleum Industry bill by the PDP, the APC chose to break it up by fiat! The PDP maintained a fuel subsidy policy-at a time of high international crude/product prices-that maintained average pump prices below N100, the APC-at a time of very low international crude/product prices has sustained average product prices at over N140, yet deny the truth!

    The forex sector under the PDP was governed by clear direction and discernible policy, the APC operates the sector with ‘magical wands’ and and indiscreet allocations, such that today people in authority and closest to the President allegedly receive more forex allocations than whole industry sectors and re-sell to manufacturers at record black market rates.

    The power sector was unbundled by the PDP through a market-driven process hailed across the world with a clear transition plan to sustainability and efficient tariff implementation, the APC unconscionably imposed a 45% tariff increase on Nigerians for a far reduced power supply and sectoral efficiency.

    The PDP government addressed the perennial problem of access to higher education by establishing new federal universities, upgrading some premier colleges of education to universities and generally stabilizing the university sector by granting full autonomy to university councils in accordance with extant laws while the APC cancelled the universities of education and unilaterally removed university vice chancellors contrary to the law and turned around to ‘lick its vomit’ only after ASUU threatened industrial action.

    The PDP preached and abided by the rule of law and sanctity of the electoral process with numerous evidences of its adherence, including the electoral victory of the APC and uncountable obedience to court judgements and pronouncements while the APC has introduced the strange concept of ‘inconclusive’ elections to our electoral lexicon (Kogi, Bayelsa and now Rivers where INEC has been restrained from releasing parliamentary re-run results a full week after the election simply because the APC candidates lost woefully), elevated violence and political murders to an art of governance and has elevated disobedience of court judgements to a government policy; often publicly denigrating the judiciary even by the President himself.

    These are are the issues that press us and the verifiable responses of the PDP and the APC. If leaders like Tinubu will confront power by speaking to President Buhari on the slide of national economy due to the non existence of clear cut government policies, the descent to anarchy and electoral perfidy due to the crave for a one party state by the APC, the seeming return to the dark days of the defunct National Security Organization (NSO) as a result of the emerging relapse to a fascist state with a totalitarian overlord and accelerating loss of confidence by the masses of the Nigerian people, including the ‘Change front-runners and progenitors” rather than pushing the blame to the PDP, which is out of power; may be and just may be, we may as he posited “see that magic will not be needed to bring the progress we seek.”

    Above all, the country deserve to move on and if PMB and the APC are overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems, their honourable option is to tow their established line: “lick its vomit” by apologizing openly once more to Nigerians for deceiving them with esoteric and unrealizable promises of “Change”, which many Nigerians now believe to have been intended “Chain”.

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      I feel you are being too partisan. A PDP-affiliate. If not, you would not have made flawed arguments. The reason why after 16 years of democratic governance, the country is still grappling with fuel shortages, problems with the inflow and allocation of forex, drastic fall in the standard of education vis a vis the unjustifiable increase in the cost of education across all levels, food shortage and lack of food sufficiency despite being able to comfortably feed Africa, the rot in the petroleum industry and failure of the PDP to see the light of day, unprecedented levels of insecurity in the country, death and magic at the polling stations is clearly because of the inefficiency and selfishness of the PDP.

      You guys had 16 good years to fix this country but instead you worsened it then today you complain about a government that is less than one year old. No matter how confused and unprepared this government might appear, if they did not have to grapple with rudimentary problems that have suppressed this country for so long thing would not be this way. I am not impressed with the current administration but I am a fair judge. Why would someone who has been in this country so long still support a party that ran the country aground?

      PDP unbundled phcn and sold the bits to their cronies. Those ones too didn’t do due diligence and they realised that they bought scrap. Now the country is in a quagmire and we blame APC that is just trying to get its way. You seem to have forgotten how PDP groped about in the dark when they got into power.

      In discussing on platforms like this, let reasoning prevail

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        @Angry man…you simply tell lies here…all you wrote above happened under APC. I am not a politician but an honest concerned citizen. Nigerians should stop playing party politics with their life. The best way we can support the APC government is to tell them the truth which what the young man you are critisizing just stated clearly. He is not supporting PDP but was pointing out the current fiscal challenges this government have not been able to address.

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    Tinubu has degraded himself again by making this statement, he is too
    biased for blaming Kachichukwu for being open and honest to Nigerians.
    Buhari is the petroleum minister and Buhari is responsible for any blame
    in the petroleum sector.

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    Tinubu is just a coward, partial and myopic politician! For God’s sake and at least in the the interest of the ordinary Nigerians, can Tinubu just say the truth for once?

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      As a typical coward, Tinubu castigated a soft target Kachukwu, the Minister of State, but praised Buhari, the President and the Minister for Petroleum. What a double-standard!

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    Mr. Tinubu, even under NRC- leaving out PDP now, the situation in the country can’t get worse than this, if it does by an inch, it becomes a failed state. We fear it doesn’t get even to that under the mouths you helped feed, whose teeth is biting you swiftly. I’m sure you’re a smart man. You knew the mallam u supported won’t dance to ur tune in the first place, some fools thought u were a fool but some of us knew you had a grand plan. Regroup and let’s see the 2019 game

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    No public with common sesne is buying Tinubu cheap political posturing and publicity. Apparently relegated to the back by Buhari, Tinubu is trying but unsuccessful at positioning himself for the next move, to become relevant in the national scheme of things, so his soft target was the powerful oil minister who happens to be an Igbo man, it is easy to get away insulting an Igbo minister in Buhari’s cabinet than attacking Liar Mumuhead who told the world that Buhari’s government has lost control of the economy.

    But here is Tinubu was trying to achieve,

    (1) With the glaring failures of Buhari in all fronts-Economy, Security and Public opinion, it is important for people to understand that his support for Buhari was beyond party politics but for national interest-THAT IS A LIE

    (2) Tinubu do not want to take any personal responsibility for the role he played in hoisting a Buhari catastrophe on Nigeria, that has made mockery and even governance dangerous, and therefore has become the most unpopular government in the history of Nigeria. So, it is easy to play tribal politics to regain the trust of Yorubas, who despite their education, are themselves easily held hostage to tribal politics, so, Dr. Kachukwu mistake, if any, must be exploited to rally support against a sinking ship. As long as Tinubu is concerned and consistent with his dirty politics, Dr. Kachukwu is rather dispensed to achieve his criminal motives than the truth the man is espousing.

    (3) Lastly, and very important, Tinubu may be preparing to jump Buhari ship, or to convince Buhari that he Tinubu remains relevant and critically important to the survival of Buhari presidency and therefore Buhari should eternally depend on him for direction as a king maker.

    But we are not stupid, but hundred times wiser than Tinubu, and I hope our reactions here will prove to him, that he is no match to the brains he is trying to compete with. TINUBU IS AN OPPORTUNIST AND A FOOL TO SAY THE LEAST.

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    Dr. Kachukwu has right and should immediately respond to this animal tribal ape from Yoruba land. Since Tinubu called himself a private citizen but used the public forum to lunch an unprecedented and unwarranted attack on the character and personality of Dr. kachukwu, it will amount to stupidity and foolishness for Dr. Kachukwu not to attack the fool back. Tinubu is always threatened by brighter minds, because he wants to be the center of attention. We know Tinubu has been lobbying the Petroleum Minister and has been trying to dominate oil blocks, which the honorable minister has refused but insisted on tranparency and fair play, Tinubu who has long felt that he singularly made Buhari President and thereby deserves a lot in return, now felt he has a window of opportunity to lash out at Dr.Kachukwu for refusing to handover the nations oil wells to him. But It will be cowardice for Dr. kachukwu not to respond in kind to this animal called Tinubu, and let him know Igbos don’t take insults lightly.

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      Criticism on all fronts…country like ours should not be experiencing shortages of fuel. We should find a way forward as it was mentioned earlier to build refineries to avoid these issues. Past government and present government cannot be a scapegoat all the times.

      We are all educated individual that can use our skills and gifts that are in common to establish a moving nation.

      “God helps us” as we need to help ourselves and stop all this grammatical comments.

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        ! Patience is the name of the game right now. God has already helped us with the enormous reserves of Oil since 1957. Can you imagine the volume of Crude extracted from our landscape and the truckloads of Dollars? And we are impatiently chastising who is in there to start correcting our collective profligacy in the run of energy in our future? Amazing! @Mobolaji.

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    Investigation by Thisday Newspaper Report tells the whole Story why Tinubu lashed out Dr. Kachukwu

    “Tinubu, it was gathered, took umbrage at Kachikwu when he appointed Animashaun as GM, Legal, at NPDC. Presidency officials said they noted the unusual public criticism of Kachikwu, who Tinubu ought to know is the minister of state in the Office of the Petroleum Minister, occupied by President Muhammadu Buhari, and that they would have thought that if he had anything against Kachikwu as Buhari’s minister of state, he had all the access to the presidency to lodge his complaints, and therefore found his public reproval of Kachikwu surprising.

    A presidency official who said because he was not briefed to comment on the issue, he may not be quoted, noted that Tinubu’s anger with Kachikwu may not be unconnected with Kachikwu’s appointment of Animashaun as GM at NPDC without the approval of Tinubu, given that Animashaun was a permanent secretary in the Lagos State government and a Lagos indigene.

    Tinubu was said to be particularly piqued that Animashaun was recommended by Pastor Tunde Bakare, and backed by former Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola, without reference to him before being appointed. He was said to have pointedly asked Kachikwu to reverse the appointment but the minister told him that it was a bit too late in the day to do that as Lagos State government did not raise any objection or make any adverse comment to her appointment as GM and that if they do, then the NNPC management would reconsider her appointment.

    When this was brought to the attention of President Buhari, according to the officials, the President maintained that anybody once appointed after following due process could only be removed by due process and not because of opposition from individuals. Following the President’s position on the issue, Lagos State government then wrote a letter to NNPC saying it did not support Animashaun’s appointment.

    It was gathered that Animashaun quickly countered that by presenting a letter of commendation from Lagos State government for her exceptional and meritorious services to the state which earned her an award as one of the best performing permanent secretaries, a development that made it impossible for Kachikwu to act on the petition.

    Tinubu was said to have insisted that Animashaun must be removed if Kachikwu was to know peace. Presidency officials, therefore, believed that yesterday’s statement authored by Tinubu was one of the first salvos in that direction. They believe so because they wondered why a small comment by Kachikwu on fuel scarcity would attract a strongly-worded statement by Tinubu, a national leader of APC, when he has unfettered access to Buhari to lodge his complaints on any issue.”

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    Kachikwu just spoke the truth of the situation, and am surprise at this needless epistle of Ex Gov.Tinubu. Of a truth APC are used to lying to the people, but, Kachikwu is a Technocrat and spoke truth with all sincerity. It is better to tell Nigerians the truth than to deceive them with lies. Buhari and Kachikwuu speaks truth always, but politicians around them are not happy with their honesty. I am thinking Tinubu is addressing something else other than the honest truth the Petroleum Minister stated. May God Help Buhari and Kachikwu to survives these strange bed fellows.

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    Tinubu, the Man Ibe Minister of State , he his not a Politician, he speaks directly like a common man , he his there because of experience ,

  • Author’s gravatar

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    Tinubu is simply trying to save face for misleading his people and other Nigerians and to do that he must find a scapegoat.

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    Is Toronto University certificate holder (Tinubu) among the saints? I weep for Nigeria.

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    I love Tinubu. But I, unlike Senator Buruji, will never consider him a role model. Soon or later we will know the reasons for his reaction. I don’t buy the patriotism reason.

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    Asiwaju Tinubu, e seun. You spoke the mind of many of us. This Kachukwu is never to be trusted with a strateguc role in this government. The man is not up to scratch. He could have have spent his lifetime in Shell ( or whereever) that is his business. We need a practical thinker/doer who will fix the oil & gas challenges/opportunities so that we can begin exporting refined, value added product rather than crude oil. We need a thinker/doer who fixes challenges as the local Iranian oil & gas engineers are currently doing, post resdmission into world stream. Kachukwu is empty and incapable of the strategic lift we need in oil & gas market redesign.

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      The current minister for finance who doesn’t know d answer to 16+6,saying its 24, a london banker was not criticized by your Tinubu yet..

      Hmmm…I wonder o..Wht abt d minister for petroleum himself? ..U unintelligent tribal bigot..Shame on u..

    • Author’s gravatar

      The president trusted this guy so much and he still does. What can you say about the ministry of finance?

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    Gentlemen and ladies, I invite you all to read the contributions of the Igbo stock on this very simple strategic question. Comments all condemn Asiwaju Tinubu and support Kachukwu. Very blindly without addressing Kachukwu’s malevolent insensitivity. As a private sector executive, Kachukwu would be immediately fired if he made such comments because of their violent impact on shareholder value. Kachukw knows this as FACT. So why do Ibos rally round Jonathan Goodluck despite the unprecedented destruction of our national wealth wrought by this man? Why destroy the genuine effort being made currently to retrieve some of our stolen money? Why attack Asiwaju Tinubu rather than look closely at Kachukw. Yesterday, we requested Segun Awolowo be removed, if he did what was alledged. No sentiments. Somebody needs to save the Igbo if ever they will produce a president in Nigeria. To produce a president, Igbo must be part of the genuine effort to rebuild what Jonathan Goodluck broke.

    • Author’s gravatar

      O Jeez! My friend Kachikwu may have spoken wrongly, if what he was quoted referring to consumers of petroleum products is true. Tinubu is the head of the ruling Party. He had gone overhead in the conduit by not conferring with the President assessing the performance of Ibe Kachikwu. You know the volatility in public dispositions in times of excruciating shortages. The titular head of a party should reason that his public outbursts could be inciting. He should have in a subtle manner conferred with the man who appointed the minister of state in the Petroleum sector before rushing to Press. Or at best he could have requested a meeting with Ibe himself in the presence of his boss. As we speak, the President still holds the Ministry himself. Is this break in tradition signaling a rift in the government? The population is straddled with all kinds of basic needs than petroleum products and he did not burst out at the handlers of those portfolios. There is acute housing, decrepit road network, anemic power supply, no running water, inflation expectations, moribund education of the newer generation and many more biting issues. The primary focus should not be Kachikwu and the dearth of petroleum for cars that’ll be driven on dilapidated roads. You see, you are all thinking about the Igbo again. Please leave them out of this one. Do not scuttle the policy of this President. The public has a way of speaking when aroused.

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      You are just one of d very few sensible people around here

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    With all due respect to my political mentor Tinubu, with the dynamic leader i know in Tinubu, it is all obvious that he wants Kachukwu out and this presents to him a great opportunity. I guess Tinubu wants to plant his own man in that strategic office. Else he (Tinubu) should have corrected him privately like he has been doing all these while. Time will tell. Politics na wa oh!

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    ……”kleptocracy….” Tinubu, are you serious? Take a look at the mirror bro.

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    You are all tribal bigots in Nigeria. Instead of dealing with the issue at hand you will all behave like illiterates and trace everything back to tribal sentiments. Someone who tried to analyse what might have informed the outburst of Tinubu did a good job at first but later lost me in his subsequent comment. We do not have commentators any more on Social media dealing with Nigerian issues, we only have commenters who are only trained in abusing the other nations. Real commentators are withdrawing from the media and so the intelligent discussions are disappearing as well. I knew it was a waste of time trying to read through your comments. I am not surprised.

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    It is all about Oil blocks. Once the area boy of Bourdillon is showered with Oil blocks he will begin to say that Kachikwu is the greatest thing that happened to NNPC. Nigerians are not fooled.

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    Tinubu should stop shooting at Kachikwu because he, Tinubu is part of the problem. Up to now the Buhari government which he imposed on Nigeria has failed to fly on all fronts after almost one whole year in office! Why blame a man who is trying his best to make things better?