By Kayode Ogundele -
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has condemned
comments by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu “that he
(Kachikwu) 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 fuel it is currently doing. In a statement
titled, ‘Kachikwu Needs To Know That Respect And Good Performance Will Do What
Magic Cannot’, the former Lagos State Governor insisted he is “an avid and
partisan supporter” of the President Buhari-led government and of the
progressive policies of the APC.
Bola Tinubu |
Tinubu said he reserves “the right and the duty as a
Nigerian to voice my opinion when I believe a member of this government has
strayed from the progressive calling required of this administration. I do this
because my greater devotion and love are for this nation and its people. Party
and politics fall secondary.”
He said that
“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.
“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.
“Kachikwu’s
intervention was unhelpful. It 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.
“Kachikwu must be
reminded that he was not coerced to take this job. He accepted the job and its
responsibilities knowingly. He also must remember that he does not own NNPC.
This also is not a private company that owes nothing to the public except the
duty of fair dealing.
“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.
“His portfolio
being a strategically important one, he needs to reestablish the correct
relationship with the public. They no longer feel he is working for their
optimal benefit as their servant. Instead, he seems to be standing above them,
telling them to take it or leave it. For his policies and stint in office to be
successful and a help to this government, he must have the support and belief
of the people at this tough time.
“He must talk to
them in a way that they believe he seeks their best interest and understands
the hardship weighing upon them. He must ask them to work with him and perhaps
to endure a bit longer but with the knowledge that he is working to resolve
this matter as fast as he can and as permanently as possible. That he is
dedicated to the position that once these current lines are gone that never
again shall they reappear, as long as he has any influence in the matter.
“To do this,
requires no magic or training in that strange craft. It requires empathy,
compassion and the willpower to forge a better Nigeria. These must be the
common trademarks of those serving in a progressive government, for these
attributes are integral parts of the spirit and ideals upon which the APC was
founded.
“Upon such notions
was this administration voted into office by the Nigerian people in the
operation of their sovereign will to seek a national leadership that would
pursue their interests to the utmost and give them every fair chance to live in
a better Nigeria.
“Even though times
are hard, we must all realise that they would be even harder and much darker
had we allowed the venal, kleptocracy of the PDP to continue to lord over the
land solely for their selfish benefit and not for the common good.
“I am confident
that President Buhari and this government can resolve the issues that press us.
From establishing full security and safety to staking a claim to true economic
prosperity and fairness, this government shall salvage our national pride and
purpose.
“Let all of us, in
and out, of government never forget this. If we adhere to this remembrance, we
shall see that magic will not be needed to bring the progress we seek,” Tinubu.
Culled from New Mail
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