…Appeals to Nigerians to be patient with Him

By Francis Sadhere

The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) has kicked against calls by some Nigerians who are calling for the resignation of the Minister of Petroleum Resources (state), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu for failing to end the fuel scarcity in the country, saying President Mohammadu Buhari did not make a mistake by appointing him as a minister.

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources (state).

The group therefore, appealled to Nigerians to be patient with the Minister over the lingering fuel crisis experienced in most parts of the country.

The Minister has come under heavy fire as fuel crisis lingers with many calling on him to resign just as they kicked over his alleged statement last Wednesday that despite the efforts being put in place by the Federal Government, fuel queues might not completely be eliminated until about two months.

But NDIMRC, an oil monitoring group in a statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Stanley Mukoro, urged Nigerians to bear with the Minister as he was capable of dealing with the fuel scarcity across the country.

The group made it clear that the Minister never put a time frame of May ending to arrest the situation, describing it as misinterpretation.

“The Minister only said that the solution to the fuel crisis is a gradual process and as an oil monitoring group, we want to appeal to Nigerians to bear with Dr Kachikwu over the lingering fuel scarcity. The Minister has apologized to Nigerians over the worrisome situation and we want to implore Nigerians to be patient with the Minister who is capable of handling the fuel scarcity once and for all,” the group said.

“President Buhari did not make a mistake in appointing Dr Kachikwu as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and retaining him as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and this is why we are imploring Nigerians who are suffering as a result of the fuel scarcity to be patient with the President and the Minister over the situation,” the group added.

It also stated that, “The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources that we know is not happy with the situation and working round the clock with his team to end the noticeable fuel queues in most parts of the country in the weeks ahead. We know that efforts are in full gear to eliminate all factors which have so far impeded the free flow of petrol across the country and those calling on him to throw in the towels should be patient with him.”

“There is no point calling on the Minister who has apologized to Nigerians over the fuel crisis to resign, he is doing a great job in the oil and gas industry and so we need him around to assist the President. You do not change your winning team. It is our appeal to Nigerians to ignore the misinterpretation given to the assessment of the fuel supply situation in the country by the Minister who never put a time frame of  May ending to halt the fuel crisis. Nigerians should be rest assured that the fuel queues will disappear in weeks as we have confidence in the Minister who is having sleepless nights with his team and are working on it and are committed to making the fuel scarcity go away and so Nigerians should please bear with the Minister and his capable team,” the group posited.

According to the group also, “The only frustration the Minister is facing at the moment is the reorganisation of  NNPC and the Cabal who do not want this to take place are out to do everything to thwart his efforts. But God will see the Minister who is like David that killed Goliath through in his endeavors to make NNPC work. He cannot be frustrated by the Cartel in NNPC and dubious major fuel importers  as  the Almighty God is with him.”