The Nineteen-Seventeen Northern Consensus Movement for Peace, Unity, Empowerment, and Development Initiative (NSNCM) has strongly condemned those who are calling for the removal of Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
In a statement issued by the group’s National Chairman, Comrade Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, they branded these critics as enemies of progress.
The NSNCM argues that the demand to oust Kyari is not only unfounded and biased but also regressive. They attribute the attacks to the proactive measures taken by Kyari to curb the exploitation of the Nigerian oil sector, which has ruffled the feathers of certain individuals.
According to the statement, these individuals are part of a larger network of ethnic leaders representing 401 different groups, suspected to be collaborating with oil smugglers and their cohorts.
The NSNCM expresses concern that there may be an underlying anti-north agenda at play, but they affirm their belief that President Bola Ahmad Tinubu is not involved, given the North’s past support for him during elections.
The group highlights Kyari’s transformative and developmental efforts in the oil sector, including revenue generation, strategic redirection, and the application of scientific advancements. These initiatives, aimed at revitalizing the Nigerian oil industry, have evidently unsettled those who oppose Nigeria’s economic growth.
Mele Kyari was appointed as the Group Managing Director of NNPC in July 2019, succeeding Maikanti Baru. Since assuming the position, Kyari has implemented various reforms to enhance the corporation’s efficiency and transparency.
The NSNCM firmly asserts that attempts to undermine Kyari’s leadership during this critical time would be detrimental to the economic transformation and revitalization of NNPC and Nigeria as a whole.
They urge the nation to recognize the importance of Kyari’s contributions and the need to support his endeavors for the greater good of the country’s economic, security, and infrastructural development.
