- Professor Tam David-Wes called for the issue between the Kachikwu and Baru to be settled
- He noted that the minister of state for petroleum was not the boss to of the group managing director of the NNPC
- The former minister said the minister of state office should be scrapped
Professor Tam David-West has called for the scrapping of the office of the minister of state while also saying Ibe Kachikwu was a minister without portfolio.
In an interview with The Punch, the former minister who served during the administration of then head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, reacted to the leaked letter written by Ibe Kachikwu accusing Maikanti Baru, the group managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC0 of insubordination.
READ ALSO: “Church of Satan” allegedly discovered in Ifo, Ogun state
He said: “When you say that a minister of state is the boss of the GMD of NNPC, it is wrong. That cannot be. People are making those claims because of misconception. The minister of state in the First Republic was a minister without a portfolio. He cannot be a boss of the GMD of an oil industry, who is the livewire of that sector.
“Each time I read the newspapers about this issue, I am upset. An editor called me and asked me, ‘What is the duty of a minister of state?’ Some of these problems are caused by personality problems. Some of them have both bloated and ballooned egos. No one is indispensable in Nigeria because for every Nigerian holding a position, there are many others who are better qualified. No public servant can threaten the country. Nigeria is bigger than anyone, so whoever is in a top position should thank God and the country for the opportunity to serve. One million Tam David-Wests cannot threaten Nigeria.
“When I read Kachikwu’s letter, I was flabbergasted. But I was relieved when the NNPC replied that nothing like that happened. There is a danger in having Kachikwu loyalists and Baru loyalists in the same sector. It is very dangerous for the nation.
“The NNPC is a parent body. Was there a Ministry of Petroleum Resources in (Shehu) Shagari’s time and during Buhari’s first term in government? Let me clarify this, what we have is the ‘Department of Petroleum Resources’ and not a ministry.”
“Buhari made him (Kachikwu) the chairman of the NNPC board. The chairman of that board does not have to be a minister.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
“People have forgotten what he said when he resumed as president. He said that he would hold that position for 18 months, during which he intended to straighten things up in the place. Actually, Buhari should be the chairman of the NNPC board and not Kachikwu, who is a minister without a portfolio in reality. It would be better if we scrapped the ‘minister of state’ which is superfluous and redundant.”
Meanwhile, a report by The Cable indicates that the private residence of Kachikwu, caught fire on Sunday, October 15.
According to the report, the fire started in the bedroom of the minister of state for petroleum in the evening.
Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naij.com