Tinubu’s Choice of Petroleum Minister of State Sends A Wrong Signal-IPAC

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from the oil-rich Niger Delta area has been met with fierce criticisms.

This comes as the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani said the President’s choice sends the wrong signal.

Yabagi made this statement when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast programme on Thursday.

Sani said, “Unfortunately, this sector [Niger Delta] has been made to look as if people that should be appointed to that ministry should come from Niger Delta.” 

He noted that “It is a wrong signal because, when you now give people a sense of entitlement, their efficiency becomes something that is not given due attention to.”

IPAC calls for change

Speaking further, Sani said “I think we must change that scenario, but if he must do that not because I’m from the North Central, why don’t you give the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to an indigene of North Central? – if you must be sensational about such a very important ministry.”

Also, Sani asked, “What do we do about fighting crude oil theft? Crude oil theft endemically is perpetrated-from what we heard so far is from that area.”

He also added that the responsibilities of the president were weighty and critical for the Ministry of Petroleum.

Moreso, Sani lamented that if the ministry was reserved for the president, there could be issues lingering on accountability and efficiency in fighting crude oil theft.

What you need to know

Tinubu had on Wednesday released portfolios for 45 ministerial designates.

He appointed Heineken Lokpobiri, who is from Bayelsa, as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources but was silent on the portfolio of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Reports say Tinubu could be following in the footsteps of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, who occupied the post during their tenures.