Fuel price hike: Former NNPC GMD's want to destroy Buhari-Govt.- Sabi
Tue Sep 06, 2016 07:45:am National
2.2K By Buchi Obichie
A member of the Senate has reacted to the call for an increase in the price of fuel by former NNPC Group Managing Directors.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the Senate Spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC-Niger), asked Government not to buy the idea of the former GMD's.
Cautioning the Government to be mindful of the activities of the former NNPC bosses, Sabi said they might be agents of enemies of the present federal administration, with given tasks to pull down the Government.
The Senate Spokesman lambasted the former GMD's for being responsible for Nigeria's current economic woes; saying their activities as heads of the NNPC brought the country to its current situation.
He said, "First and foremost, let me say that these are my personal opinions. I'm not making this submission as spokesman of the Senate, which means the position of the Senate but I'm saying this in capacity as Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who represents the good people of Niger North Senatorial District.
"I read the newspaper report and I was disturbed, worried and I think for all intents and purposes, I'm very much disappointed.
"First and foremost, let's underpin the issue as follows: I saw it clearly: former Group Managing Directors almost all of them numbering close to 10 or so. And what came to my mind was that how did we get here?
"The NNPC, as an institution, was expectedly the live wire of this nation. As we have all known, refineries have not been functional because if they were functional and if that institution had been up and doing in tandem with its peers in other countries, we would not be where we are today.
"For crying out loud, all of these former GMDs, can they be said to be free of blame on how we got here? These refineries have not been working, the corporation itself has not been run transparently to the maximum benefit of Nigerian citizens.
"At least, I knew that it was just in this our change administration that the Minister of State (Petroleum), Ibe Kachikwu, was able to tell Nigerians that the corporation had declared profit now because he has brought his wealth of private sector experience to bear on that corporation.
"Before now, going down the lane through the period of the 16 years misrule of the PDP administration, and even before then, our refineries have not worked. All the problems we are having is as a result of all these people who are assembled now to be the wise men to tell us what should be done.
"As far as I'm concerned, all of them do not have the moral standpoint to even advise us on what to do because they had a hand in it. And I cannot see how you can solve a problem under the same condition that created it. Are we expecting these people's advice to change the narrative?
"As far as I'm concerned, maybe, they are sent to destroy this Government. We will not allow them to do that because right now, Mr President is grappling with inherited problems. He is trying his best to see that things are changed.
"If you look at the arithmetic, if things had been well, it is now that Nigerians are even supposed to enjoy because the price of petroleum has crashed.
"So, no matter how well intentioned their advice is, it's unfortunate that it is coming from that particular group of people because they have been part of the mess all along.
"I can't see how they could clear themselves of the mess that is currently in the oil and gas sector. So, to my mind, they should have made their advice underground. But to come out in that strong manner, I see it as a slap on us because they are responsible for what we are getting.
"If they had left a legacy of a solid institutional base for the oil and gas industry, we wouldn't have been in this situation today. You increase the price and add up to the crisis that Mr President is handling, is that the way to go about it?
"If we trace the historical milestone of this organisation down the line, these people have been responsible for the period of unaccountability, deep leakages that has characterised that industry.
"For them to come out today and tell us that this is what needs to be done, I don't think they sat down to think through what they were saying. They don't have the moral foundation to advise us on what to do because they are responsible for where we are.
"My take is that the current effort that is being made to turn around this sector will continue."
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the Senate Spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC-Niger), asked Government not to buy the idea of the former GMD's.
Cautioning the Government to be mindful of the activities of the former NNPC bosses, Sabi said they might be agents of enemies of the present federal administration, with given tasks to pull down the Government.
The Senate Spokesman lambasted the former GMD's for being responsible for Nigeria's current economic woes; saying their activities as heads of the NNPC brought the country to its current situation.
He said, "First and foremost, let me say that these are my personal opinions. I'm not making this submission as spokesman of the Senate, which means the position of the Senate but I'm saying this in capacity as Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who represents the good people of Niger North Senatorial District.
"I read the newspaper report and I was disturbed, worried and I think for all intents and purposes, I'm very much disappointed.
"First and foremost, let's underpin the issue as follows: I saw it clearly: former Group Managing Directors almost all of them numbering close to 10 or so. And what came to my mind was that how did we get here?
"The NNPC, as an institution, was expectedly the live wire of this nation. As we have all known, refineries have not been functional because if they were functional and if that institution had been up and doing in tandem with its peers in other countries, we would not be where we are today.
"For crying out loud, all of these former GMDs, can they be said to be free of blame on how we got here? These refineries have not been working, the corporation itself has not been run transparently to the maximum benefit of Nigerian citizens.
"At least, I knew that it was just in this our change administration that the Minister of State (Petroleum), Ibe Kachikwu, was able to tell Nigerians that the corporation had declared profit now because he has brought his wealth of private sector experience to bear on that corporation.
"Before now, going down the lane through the period of the 16 years misrule of the PDP administration, and even before then, our refineries have not worked. All the problems we are having is as a result of all these people who are assembled now to be the wise men to tell us what should be done.
"As far as I'm concerned, all of them do not have the moral standpoint to even advise us on what to do because they had a hand in it. And I cannot see how you can solve a problem under the same condition that created it. Are we expecting these people's advice to change the narrative?
"As far as I'm concerned, maybe, they are sent to destroy this Government. We will not allow them to do that because right now, Mr President is grappling with inherited problems. He is trying his best to see that things are changed.
"If you look at the arithmetic, if things had been well, it is now that Nigerians are even supposed to enjoy because the price of petroleum has crashed.
"So, no matter how well intentioned their advice is, it's unfortunate that it is coming from that particular group of people because they have been part of the mess all along.
"I can't see how they could clear themselves of the mess that is currently in the oil and gas sector. So, to my mind, they should have made their advice underground. But to come out in that strong manner, I see it as a slap on us because they are responsible for what we are getting.
"If they had left a legacy of a solid institutional base for the oil and gas industry, we wouldn't have been in this situation today. You increase the price and add up to the crisis that Mr President is handling, is that the way to go about it?
"If we trace the historical milestone of this organisation down the line, these people have been responsible for the period of unaccountability, deep leakages that has characterised that industry.
"For them to come out today and tell us that this is what needs to be done, I don't think they sat down to think through what they were saying. They don't have the moral foundation to advise us on what to do because they are responsible for where we are.
"My take is that the current effort that is being made to turn around this sector will continue."
Related News
Leave a comment...