By Ogundana Michael Rotimi
Dear President Buhari,
I am addressing you not as the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but as the Minister of Petroleum
Resources, a post to which you appointed yourself on the November 11, 2015.
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| *President Buhari |
You seem to have forgotten that you are the Minister of
Petroleum Resources and may have completely relinquished your responsibilities
to the Minister of State of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
You seem to have neglected the fact that you are directly answerable
to Nigerians as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, and owe it to Nigerians to
make the product readily available and affordable.
As a reminder of what you already know - fuel scarcity has fully
gripped major cities in the country and is contributing negatively to an
economy that is still struggling to pick its stand.
Pathetic as it may be, your Ministry has failed Nigerians over its
inability to end the lingering fuel shortage, as this unabated scarcity of the
product has contributed to the high cost of goods and services.
The Honourable Minister of Petroleum Sir, you are on your way to set
the record for the longest reign of fuel scarcity in the history of the
Republic under your watch. Since you have been sworn in, it has been from one
scarcity to another.
Although, one cannot belittle or underestimate the efforts of the
junior Minister of Petroleum Resources who also happens to be the Group
Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr.
Ibe Kachikwu, in revamping the sector. But Sir, your unnecessary and
unwarranted silence and carefree attitude before every short statement is issued
on the lingering scarcity is worrisome. It suggests that you may have forgotten
or may have become unconscious of the fact that you head the Ministry that is
currently failing to make available and affordable the product that is key to
the economy and the everyday activities of the people.
