Out of 55 top management positions, mainly general managers’ cadre, for which new appointments were made at the nation’s oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), none of the appointees is from any of the South East states.
This development has become an issue of massive outrage especially from the zone since the announcements were made.
In a recent statement issued, the apex socio political Organisation of Ndigbo, the Ohanaeze has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the recent reorganization at the NNPC, arguing that “the current leadership of the corporation which ignores the South-east region doesn’t promote peace, unity and good governance in the country”.
In the statement signed by the President General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Ohaneze argued that it is appalled at the consistent and unrepentant disposition of disdain for the South-east by the present administration, as displayed in the recent reorganization at the NNPC.
The group noted further that such disregard for constitutional provisions fuels the lack of confidence youths in the South-east against the present governance structure.
Ohaneze averred that upon four out of the five states in the South-east have proven oil resources, yet the region was not found fit to be adequately represented in a key corporate institution like the NNPC.
“Ohaneze had thought that after the President’s declaration in a broadcast recently that ‘Nigeria unity is settled and not negotiable’ that he would take all necessary actions in his governance to achieve it but the recent NNPC shake up has not shown that the administration is walking its talk.
According to Ohaneze, Buhari administration as shown in the new managers just announced tilting clearly in favour of the North with South East totally ignored as has always been the case since Buhari administration came to office is not intended to achieve the desired cohesion in an already fragmented nation.
“This brazen disregard, marginalization and non compliance with the Federal character provisions in our constitution are the causes of lack of confidence which our youths have in our present governance structure.
“As long as President Buhari continues to live out his speech abroad that his government will favour those who voted 97% for him against those who voted 5% for him so long will the dissatisfaction and unrest in our polity subsist?
Ohaneze heightened anger, stressing that “There is no oil well anywhere in Northern Nigeria. Four of the five states in the South East have proven oil resources some of which provide our nation’s revenue yet our people are not found fit to be adequately represented in a key corporate institution like the NNPC”.
There had been no official reaction from the government on Ohaneze’s position. Three days after.
