Politics NNPC Allegations: Presidency Backs Maikanti Baru Over Ibe Kachikwu - The Nation

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The Presidency is behind Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in his supremacy battle with Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, according to a report from The Nation.

President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be weighing options on Dr Kachikwu’s fate following the allegations while the State Oil Minister is said to be considering his next move, The Nation says.

Kachikwu's allegations allegedly "anti-Buhari"

Here's what a government official said about the issue:

“The Presidency directed the GMD of NNPC to provide facts and figures, which it got from Baru. Thereafter, the NNPC Act, the NNPC Handbook and Public Procurement Act were consulted on the responses of Baru to find out if infractions were committed by the corporation.

“Having been convinced that there were no infractions, the Presidency then directed NNPC to lay the cards on the table for Nigerians to see and judge. What was uppermost in the responses of the GMD was the fact that ‘there was no evidence of sharp practices, bribery, looting of funds and diversion of transaction cash’.

“The allegations of Kachikwu were rated as ‘wild, intentional and political in nature’ against the administration he is serving.”

It's said that Buhari met with Kachikwu last Friday only to “be fair to the Minister and for record purposes”.

Kachikwu to quit?

Kachikwu’s associates are suggesting that he leave Buhari's cabinet "to preserve his integrity". They cited the travails of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources Prof. Tam David-West’s rough deals with the military administration of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida.

It's not clear if Kachikwu will take this advice.

However, an official in the presidency said "the President has not spoken on the next action. No one knows his mindset.”
 

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