The reported lamentation of the leaders of Pan Niger Delta Forum
(PANDEF), over the blatant lopsided appointments into top management positions
of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), deserves attention from
the Federal Government with a view to correcting it. The development makes one
wonder if the organization has surreptitiously become Northern Nigeria Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
It is clear that since 1999, for instance,
what used to be a pan Nigeria giant oil corporation that manages Nigeria’s
“cash cow”, has been northernised by way of appointments into key positions in
the organisation. The complaints and disaffection resulting from this have
largely been ignored by the Federal government.
The latest appointments of 20 northerners into
management positions in the NNPC while ignoring the south has raised the ante,
leading to discontent as reported by ThisDay of May 17, 2020. For those
looking for divisive forces threatening Nigeria, this is one of it.
