Fuel scarcity: Between Ibe Kachikwu and Bola Tinubu

– Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, attacks Minister Kachikwu over his “I have no magic wand” comment

– The APC leader states that the minister of state is responsible before the Nigerians, not vise versa

– Neither the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, nor the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) commented on Tinubu’s statement yet

Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos state, expressed his dissatisfaction with the recent declaration by Minister Kachikwu who said earlier this week that he was not a magician who could end the pertol scarcity “with a magic wand”.

The national leader of the ruling issued the appropriate statement titled ‘Kachikwu Needs to Know That Respect and Good Performance Will Do What Magic Cannot’ on Saturday, March 26.

READ ALSO: Anti-Buhari comments: Kachikwu asked to resign

Read the abstracts from the statement below:

“Much public ire has been drawn to the statement made by the minister of state (for petroleum resources) Ibe Kachikwu that he was not trained as a magician and that basically Nigerians should count themselves fortunate that the NNPC under his stewardship has been able to bring in the amount of petrol it is currently doing.

“Perhaps the statement by Kachikwu was made in a moment of unguarded frustration or was an awkward attempt at a joke. Whatever the motive, it was untimely and off-putting. The remark did not sit well with the Nigerian people; they were as right to feel insulted as the minister was wrong to have said such a thing.

“The fuel shortage is severely biting for the average person. They are forced to remain in lines far too long — for too much time — to pay too much money for too little fuel. This is no joking matter. Livelihoods and people’s welfare are at stake.

READ ALSO: Buhari’s government reveals when fuel scarcity will end

“With so much on the line, Kachikwu’s flippancy was out-of-line. He was basically telling Nigerians that they should be lucky that they are getting the inadequate supply they now suffer and that they should just be quiet and endure the shortage for several weeks more.”

Saying Kachikwu’s intervention was unhelpful, the APC leader said it rather panicked and disappointed the public as to the duration of the crisis.

“It insulted the people by its tonality. He spoke with the imperious nature of a member of the elitist government the people voted out last year and not the progressive one they voted in,” he added.

Tinubu noted that the behaviour of the minister reminded of the past administration, not the new and progressive one. The top politician emphasized that Kachikwu did not own the corporation, adding:

“He is a public servant. The seat he sits upon is owned by Nigerians, not by him. The company he runs is owned by Nigerians, not by him. They are his boss. He is not theirs. Power is vested in the people. He is a mere custodian or agent of their will.

“In talking to us in such a manner, he committed an act of insubordination. If he had talked so cavalierly to his boss in the private sector, he would have been reprimanded or worse. If wise, the man should refrain from such interjections in the future.

“As his ultimate bosses, the people have a right to demand the requisite performance and respect from him.  He should apologise for treating them so lightly in this instance.”

Reactions

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources is yet to see and to react on the statement by Tinubu, The Punch learnt on Saturday, March 26.

No response was received from the NNPC either.

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