By Francis Sadhere
Nigerians have been urged to support the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu in his bid to end the lingering fuel crisis in the country just as the Minister has been hailed for wading into the crises within the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
Making the call, an oil monitoring group, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement For Radical Change (NDIMRC), hailed the Petroleum Resources Minister over his recent apology to Nigerians over the fuel crisis in the country during a meeting with Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream on the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.
In a press statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Stanley Mukoro, the group appealed to Nigerians to support efforts being made by the Minister to end the fuel crisis in April.
The group said it was impressed with the presentation of the Minister during the meeting with Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream and pleaded with Nigerians to give the Minister the needed support to end the fuel scarcity.
While claiming that the fuel scarcity was a pure sabotage by Oil Cabals who are against the reforms being carried out in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by the Minister, the group said; “It is very clear to all now that the Oil Cabals are out to frustrate the Petroleum Resources Minister, but they will not succeed.”
According to the group; “As patriotic Nigerians, we should all work against the Oil Cabals who are making things very difficult for our people. We should all partner with the Petroleum Resources Minister, Dr Kachikwu to end the lingering fuel scarcity. There some people out there who are deriving joy from the fuel crisis in order to give the Minister a bad name, we should shame such people and give the required backing to the hard-working Minister.”
“There are entrenched interests opposed to the ongoing reforms within the Oil sector and they are those behind the fuel crisis, we must not allow them to have their way and we are glad that the Minister has made it clear to those calling for his head that he will not resign because he has has a job to do,” the group stated.
It added that; “We should all give the Minister who is down to earth our supports in this crucial moment; Dr Kachikwu is feeling the pains that we are passing through, he is not insensitive to the plight of the people and he expressed theses pains when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream recently. The likes of Dr Kachikwu are rare and this is why he needs all our supports now to end the fuel scarcity as he has promised. Let us put those who may be out to ensure that there is no end to the fuel scarcity on check. The Minister is pained over the fuel crisis and he is determined to end it now, but we know that there are some elements out there who are not happy with the efforts the Minister is making for Nigerians to obtain fuel without stress, they will fail in their mission”.
The group lauded the Minister for wading into the lingering crises within the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), describing it as a demonstration of the willingness of the Minister to end petrol scarcity across the country, adding that;” And this is why we are urging Nigerians to support the Minister who is not happy about the fuel scarcity and we are glad that IPMAN has promised to partner the Minister on the fuel crisis. We want to implore all Nigerians that all hands must be on deck to end the fuel scarcity”.
While lamenting the recent verbal attacks on the Petroleum Resources Minister by former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, the group said it was uncalled for and advised that; “We should stop throwing stones at the Minister, let us encourage him in his national assignment, the Minister should be allowed to remain focused and not unnecessary distraction from the likes of Senator Tinubu who has entrenched interests in the Oil and Gas industry in the country.”
