Groups flay calls for Mele Kyari’s retirement

Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) and the Afenifere Youth Council (AYC) have kicked against call by a group, Arewa Accountability Network, demanding the immediate resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, based on retirement age.

In a statement, yesterday, Jude Ochiaga of TAN and Opeyemi Abdul-Azeez of AYC described the call for retirement, as yet another in a series of ill-conceived and baseless attacks against the leadership of NNPCL, a calculated attempt to derail the tremendous progress being made in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector under the stewardship of Mr Kyari.

The statement reads: “The orchestrated smear campaign by these detractors is not about public service or accountability, but rather a deliberate and misguided effort to destabilise the remarkable transformations unfolding within the Nigeria oil sector.

“We find this latest call not only ignorant but laced with mischief. It is abundantly clear that the individuals behind this demand are sponsored by forces opposed to the radical reforms being implemented by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in the Petroleum sector. These individuals, in their attempt to distract from the progressive initiatives currently underway, seem to be conveniently ignoring the fact that NNPCL has since transitioned from a public corporation to a limited liability company.

“We, the Transparency and Accountability Network and the Afenifere Youth Council, stand resolutely with Mr Mele Kyari and the leadership of NNPCL. We are fully committed to supporting the ongoing reforms that are crucial to the economic development and self-sufficiency of our nation in the oil and gas sector. Any attempt by detractors or enemies of progress to further harass or derail these reforms will be met with resistance.”