Kachikwu accuses presidential aides of blocking him to see Buhari, says ‘if Baru is not checked, he will destroy NNPC, oil industry’

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, has accused some presidential aides of blocking him to see President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a letter addressed to Buhari and entitled: ‘MATTERS OF INSUBORDINATION AND LACK OF ADHERENCE TO DUE PROCESS PERPETUATED BY THE GMD NNPC – DR. BARU’, he lamented: “I would have wanted to come personally after receiving you at the airport to felicitate with you and discuss matters herein contained. However, I have been unable to secure an appointment to see you, despite very many attempts”.
Kachikwu, who accused the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, of insubordination, illegal practices and non transparent policies that can destroy the corporation and Nigeria’s oil industry, urged Buhari to urgently call Baru to order.
Kachikwu said Baru’s misgivings were capable of hindering progress in the country’s petroleum sector or even reverse recorded strides.
“Parastatals in the ministry and all CEOs of these parastatals must be aligned with the policy drive of the ministry to allow the sector register the growth that has eluded it for many years. To do otherwise or to exempt any of the parastatals would be to emplace a stunted growth for the industry.”
Kachikwu also accused Baru of running NNPC like his personal property.
“The Board of NNPC, which you appointed and, which has met every month since its inauguration and, which by the statutes of NNPC is meant to review these planned appointments and postings, was never briefed. Members of the Board learnt of these appointments from the pages of social media and the press release of NNPC”
Kachikwu said he was tired of tolerating “disrespectful and humiliating conducts by the GMD”.
He submitted in the letter: ‘My prayers most humbly and respectfully are “That we save NNPC and the oil industry from collapse arising from the above non-transparent practices and empower the Board you inaugurated to do the needful.
“That you save the office of the Minister of State from further humiliation and disrespect by compelling all parastatals to submit to oversight regulatory mandate and proper supervision which I am supposed to manage on your behalf.
“You kindly instruct the GMD to effectively leave NNPC to run as a proper institution and report out along due process lines to the Board and that Your Excellency instructs that all reviews be done with the Minister of State, prior to your decision.
“That to set the right examples, you approve that the recently announced reorganisation changes be suspended until the GMD, myself and the Board have made relevant input to same. This will send a clear signal of process and transparency.
“These, in my view, Mr. President, will provide you balanced analysis on issues and avoid exposing the exalted office of Mr. President to ridicule. It will also reduce non-productive, unsubstantiated rumour peddling.
“Mr. President, I thank you for the opportunities given me to serve and I wish you continued full recovery. I remain loyal and very proud of you sir”.