By Comfort Olayinka
The Amalgamated Arewa Youth Groups have thrown their weight behind Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), amid calls for his removal. The group condemned the recent protests as misguided and driven by personal interests, rather than collective welfare.
According to the youth group, the protests were orchestrated by “idle individuals” manipulated by a powerful oil cabal seeking to advance their own interests. They alleged that top NNPCL management staff, feeling threatened by Kyari’s success, sponsored the protests to eliminate him.
The Arewa Youth Groups praised Kyari’s leadership, citing significant strides in optimizing oil production and distribution systems. They advocated for constructive engagement and civil discourse, urging young Nigerians to rise above petty grievances and work towards national progress.
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support Kyari’s quest for energy security and order an investigation into the protests’ sponsors, particularly NNPCL insiders. They emphasized the need for experienced leadership in the oil sector, warning against monopolization that could harm society.
“However, we find it laughable to use the existence of fuel queues as a basis for such protest when, in our assessment, there have been no significant queues at fuel stations across the nation lately. This misleading narrative is not only inaccurate but serves to obfuscate the real challenges facing the oil industry in Nigeria.”
‘we cannot ignore the reality that the calls for Mr Kyari’s removal seem to come from those who have successfully monopolised the Cement value chain and wish to entrench similar models in the oil and gas sector. Their actions directly undermine the efforts of individuals like Mr Kyari who are pursuing a genuine agenda of energy security and economic stabilisation. The detrimental effects of cement monopolists are a lesson we should heed, and instead of pushing for narrow interests, our focus should be on advocating for transparency and competition within the oil industry.”
‘have reliable information suggesting that the sponsors of the protest are some top management staff of the NNPCL who feel the sterling career of Mele Kyari is stunting their growth, hence, eliminating him from the position is the only assurance for their growth. This is a clear case of internal sabotage, which must be investigated and the culprit, be brought to book for unethical conduct.”
‘Again, we cannot ignore the reality that the calls for Mr Kyari’s removal seem to come from those who have successfully monopolised the Cement value chain and wish to entrench similar models in the oil and gas sector. Their actions directly undermine the efforts of individuals like Mr Kyari who are pursuing a genuine agenda of energy security and economic stabilisation. The detrimental effects of cement monopolists are a lesson we should heed, and instead of pushing for narrow interests, our focus should be on advocating for transparency and competition within the oil industry.”
“The need for a skilled and experienced leader like Mele Kyari cannot be exaggerated. Under his guidance, NNPCL has seen significant strides towards optimising the nation’s oil production and distribution systems. By fostering an environment where the forces of demand and supply dictate pricing, Mr Kyari has advocated for a more competitive energy market—a principle that favours consumers and businesses alike. We implore our supporters to recognise the virtues of having someone at the helm who understands both the technical and managerial aspects of the oil industry.”
