By Progress Godfrey
The Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide (YCYW) has called for the replacement of the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, over the unending scarcity of fuel impacting millions of Nigerians negatively.
YCYW made this demand in a statement made available to journalists Wednesday, signed by its President General Aare Oladotun Hassan.
The group stated that the demand became necessary after a review of the situation across the country since 2022; from importation of adulterated fuel which has caused unbearable damages to vehicles, to the constant internal meddling and scarcity, all with no genuine reasons or apology to millions of Nigerians who bear the brunt
The group also lamented the astronomical hike in the pump price of fuel and diesel to the tune of 250 per litre and 750-800 per litre respectively.
The group regretted that aside from the undeniable overbearing consequences of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, and Diesel in day-to-day activities, poor coordination and reckless management of NNPC remains the greatest negative factor responsible for the harsh and dwindling economic downturn leading to the high poverty rates in the country.
“Businesses that rely solely on diesel are dying in droves on a daily basis, unbearable cost of transportation and movements of goods and services skyrocketed which consequently influenced the constant high inflation rates at double-digit.
“As the supreme Council for all Yoruba Youths globally, we have no choice but to rise in defence of the Nigerian masses, for it is unarguable that the NNPC management under Mele Kyari is incompetent, weak and incapacitated, hence our clarion call for his immediate replacement with a better competent hand, ” the group said.
The group gave a one-week ultimatum to President Buhari who heads the petroleum ministry to sack Kyari, vowing that further actions would follow if their demands were not met.
The group also highlighted the importance of appointing a South Westerner to head the petroleum company as the region had been denied leadership in the last ten years despite its records
The group added, “Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide shall be matching in protest to press home our demands should the needful not be done in a week time from the date of this press release (On or before 17th November, 2022).
“President Muhammadu Buhari must look at the South West to fish a new head for the apex Nigeria oil management company, NNPC Ltd, so as to correct the bad impression that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited is the exclusive preserve of the Northern Nigerian Petroleum Corporation limited for the obvious over dominance by the Northerners in the company.
“Since 2012, NO Southwesterner has been opportune to head the NNPC despite their obvious sterling records and qualified personnel within and outside the NNPC. We hereby reiterate our demand in the interest of fairness and equitable justice.”
