By Felix Ugboja
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) In the past days, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu’s shocking and revealing letter to President Buhari about the $25 billion contract scam in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the gross insubordination of its Group Managing Director (GMD), Maikanti Baru has taken over the airways, generating mixed reactions from all and sundry.
Looking at how things have unfolded, there seems to be no break in the series of controversies that have characterised President Buhari’s administration so far. But even worse is the level of impunity, hypocrisy and double standard when it comes to the handling of issues, especially those of corruption. For a government that has spoken highly of diversifying the economy and tackling corruption, it is quite disheartening to see that the exact opposite is always the case. While issues of corruption pertaining to other parties are overly dramatized for all to see, the ones involving the government itself are either treated with levity or shrouded in secrecy.
The leaked letter indicting the NNPC and Mr Baru clearly proves that there is a reckless contravention of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, and no one would expect any serious government to let such an issue slide without any proactive response.
While the government has failed to make any public statement pertaining to the issue, the usually hyperactive Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also suddenly become inactive. Nigerians definitely want to see a successful fight against corruption, but not many are impressed by how political, biased and hypocritical the fight has been under this government.
Kachikwu was summoned by the Presidency after the letter was leaked, but reports have it that he, Kachikwu couldn’t even meet personally with the President, but his aides, and he was cautioned and asked not to speak further to the press, while Mr Baru was ordered by the same Presidency to go ahead and reply Kachikwu in the media, without any plan to resolve the conflict, or reconcile the parties.
One is left to wonder why it will take a leaked letter for the Presidency to react, and why it won’t even set up a probe panel into the allegations, but merely instruct Baru to clear himself with a media report.
NNPC goes ahead to respond on behalf of Baru that no law mandates him to discuss contracts with Mr Kachikwu, and that he, Baru, had the blessings of the President. The entire drama points to the fact that President Buhari who also doubles as the Minister of Petroleum is very much aware of Mr Baru’s activities, and that fact was also confirmed in NNPC’s response, revealing that Buhari’s consent was sought by the NNPC.
President Buhari left so much room for this confusion to happen by remaining a Minister of Petroleum, and making Kachikwu appear like a figurehead because the NNPC GMD, Baru who was appointed by President Buhari doesn’t see the need to be loyal to Kachikwu. By implication, it could also mean that President Buhari is also a party to the contract scam, which is quite unfortunate to say the least.
One wonders what Kachikwu’s job really is. He heads the NNPC board, but has no knowledge of awarded contracts; clearly a figure head.
Many Nigerians, including prominent lawyer, Femi Falana have called for a probe and asked Buhari to relinquish the position of the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources due to the President’s “busy schedule” and appoint another Nigerian of proven integrity and competence to take up the position.
He described as embarrassing, “the petition of Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, which he addressed to President Buhari pertaining to his inability to consult with the President and substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources” and “the unilateral award of $25bn contracts” by the NNPC’s GMD.
It was also his position that officials who created the wide gulf between Kachikwu and the President should be punished.
The lawyer further called for the revocation of the $25bn contract once the EFCC investigation confirmed that they were awarded without the approval of the NNPC Board.
It is now left to be seen if the Presidency and the EFCC would take necessary action like they have in similar cases involving people like the Former Minister of Petroleum under Goodluck Jonathan, Diezani Allison-Madueke, among others, whose loots, though inexcusable were a far cry from this whopping $25bn.