Coalition passes vote of confidence on NUPRC

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations For Good Governance yesterday passed a vote of confidence on the chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Engineer Gbenga Komolafe.

The CSO urged those sponsoring negative information against the NUPRC boss to approach the court if the allegations they have against him were genuine.

Addressing the press at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Ikeja, the spokesperson of the coalition, Comrade Shina Loremikan, who was flanked by other human rights activists Declan Ihekaire, Gbenga Soloki, Femi Lawson, among others, appealed to public members to disregard the campaign of calumny embarked upon by some faceless people to discredit the NUPRC chairman.

The CSO noted that those engaged in the campaign of Calumny are not happy about the progress made by the NUPRC boss in giving specific and dedicated recognition and due attention to host community rights and entitlements.

They said: “It is important to highlight that for the first time in the history of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the law has given specific and dedicated recognition and due attention to host Community rights and entitlements.

“This landmark development is a testament to the ongoing reforms within the NUPRC under the able leadership of Engineer Komolafe.”

The human rights groups added, “We have observed with dismay, the emergence of a baseless and malicious campaign of calumny against the NUPRC and its leadership. These campaigns of calumny are propagated by faceless individuals who falsely claim to represent civil society.

“We urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard this campaigner of calumny and their campaign of vilification against Engineer Gbenga Komolafe. These individuals are not genuine members of the civil society but rather sponsored elements with ulterior motives.

“The campaign of calumny under consideration appears more of abuse of privilege. It is a clear act of misdirection and misinformation. Deliberate acts and actions to undermine public distrust.”