Stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have warned an Abuja based businessman, Dumebi Kachikwu, brother of Minister of state for petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu to steer clear of National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The South-South All Progressives Congress (APC) youths, gave this warning to the minister’s brother at the weekend, noting that he is meddling in the affairs of NNPC.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, National Coordinator of the Forum, Enebie Okoi-Anietan warned against what he

termed the ‘frightening attempt to hijack and wrap up NNPC’ by the businessman, who it said was taking advantage of his elder brother ( Emmanuel Kachikwu’s) position of Group Managing Director of NNPC as well as Minister of State for Petroleum, to control the affairs of the corporation and by large the oil industry .

Okoi-Anietan said the group was miffed at the brazen attempt by the businessman to dictate the affairs of the NNPC without considering local interests especially those of party stalwarts and youths of the agitative region.

Accusing Dumebi, of being a PDP card-carrying member who through his alleged conduct and direction of affairs of the NNPC seems poised at empowering members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of 2019 general elections, the group said it was out to stop an eminent doom.

“It is unfortunate that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources would, not minding the antecedents of his younger brother who in the past has had issues with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), allow his younger brother to run an almost parallel management at the NNPC and by large the oil sector in the country.

“With reports of alleged contracts influencing, threats of sack and repositioning of oil executives as well as outright dictation to heads of oil sector agencies and parastatals currently going on in a bid to ensure that fear and firm control becomes the order of the day in the oil sector and hence acquisition of contrived allegiance to him, it is unfortunate that perhaps the lessons of the past is yet to sink in and those who still ran the nation aground through bastardisation of our nation’s resources are yet to come to terms with the vision of new president,” Anietan stated.

The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put on the searchlight on the NNPC and commence what it termed a silent investigation into the affairs of Dumebi at the NNPC with a view to establishing the allegations against the minister’s brother.

“It is pertinent the President wades in with a view to finding out the true state of affairs so as to avoid imminent embarrassment to his government. This has become necessary as continued control and seeming hijack of the sector by individuals due to selfish reasons must not be allowed, especially by opposition party members who would stop at nothing to discredit this government,” the group warned. (Peoples Daily)

•Photo shows Petroleum Minister of State, Ibe Kachikwu.

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