By Sani Idris

A Coalition of Concerned Northern Forum, a conglomeration of over 25 Civil Society Organisations of Northern extraction both at home and diaspora, has condemned the current persistent scarcity of petroleum products across the nation.

Spokesperson of the Forum, Cmrd. Abdulsalam Kazeem, in a statement issued to pressmen on Sunday in Kaduna, also said the scarcity was aimed at embarrassing President Buhari's administration by its enemies and unpatriotic elements in the country.

He said that since 2015, those who headed as Group Managing Directors of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have helped President Buhari's administration greatly in ensuring that all petroleum products met the nation's required standard and also ensured no scarcity and queues in filling stations even during festivities.

"History can't judge the current leadership of NNPC fairly, because, out of eight years, the current administration has spent over six years without fuel scarcity and queues in our feeling stations.

"Having less than two years for President Buhari to go, strangely, fuel scarcity has surfaced and importation of adulterated PMS which has never happened in the history of our country pointed towards discrediting the record of Mr President and the Hon. Minister of Petroleum,"he said.

Kazeem alleged that NNPC's quality inspection unit did not conduct proper test before the products were discharged.

"The units are saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring the products are not above our required standard, they have up till date equipment at their disposal with adequate funding for such tasks," he added.

"The mistake made by NNPC under the current management has caused Nigeria alot as a nation, for instance, the huge cost to spend in mopping up and sanitising the adulterated fuel amidst scarce resources before we can have access to the new products.

"The adulterated products have costed damage to many automobiles, generator's, machines and other sundry equipments of citizens nationwide," he lamented.

Kazeem called the government to improvice means and ways in compensating Nigerians who had suffered damage of their automobiles and equipments from the adulterated fuel.

He also called on NNPC's management to make comprehensive list of those involved in the 'National scandal and embarrassment' for appropriate sanctions.

"If our demands are not met in the next three working days, we shall occupy all NNPC zonal offices and it's subsidiaries across our region and the Fct, it is not a threat, we shall follow up with full action after the expiration of our ultimatum and this will serve as litmus test on the part of Government on there fight against corruption and indiscipline", Kazeem said. (NAN)

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Tinubu says he’s ready to get dirty over his 2023 ambition

BAYO WAHAB

February 21, 2022 7:23 AM

Tinubu believes the Yorubas need to occupy more political positions at the federal level.

Bola Tinubu (Guardian)

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says no amount of intimidation can stop his aspiration to become the President of Nigeria.

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Tinubu, who had announced his presidential ambition in January in Abuja said he is ready to get dirty to fulfill his lifelong ambition.

The former governor of Lagos said this at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo during his consultation with the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and the Olubadan-elect, Chief Lekan Balogun.

Tinubu said his visit to Oyo and Ibadan was borne out of his respect for the royal stool, and to seek the blessings and cooperation of the traditional leaders for his 2023 aspiration.

“No amount of intimidation can stop me. I am ready to get dirty. I am out to become President of Nigeria. We are at the crossroads.” the APC leader said.

Tinubu said he could not seek to become Nigeria’s president without the support of the traditional leaders, adding that the Yoruba ethnic group needed to occupy more political positions at the federal level.

“I cannot embark on a project of such magnitude without seeking for prayers and cooperation of the traditional rulers.

“I am here to inform our fathers of my decision to run for the position of the President of this country in 2023. What I need from our highly reverred traditional rulers are their prayers and cooperation.

“Today, by the special grace of God, in Yorubaland unlike before, we have the Vice-President, the Minister of Works, Interior and Sports but we still need more.”

Reacting, Oba Adeyemi prayed that all the ancestors of Yorubaland would work Tinubu’s favour and answer his prayers.

The monarch also asked the 10 Oke-Ogun traditional rulers in attendance at the meeting whether they were in support of his decision.

‘We are fully in support,’ they responded.

At the palace of the Olubadan-elect, the monarch praised Tinubu saying he knew his antecedents as a progressive.

“We have known you and we know your antecedent. We know your antecedents as a progressive. You laid the foundation of today’s Lagos. You are the leading light of Nigeria. You contributed to making Nigeria what it is today.

“Without Yoruba, Nigeria will not be what it is today. Nigeria is badly divided. We are looking forward to a Yoruba president who will unite this country. We need a leader that will have a national focus and national acceptability. The road may be rough but by His grace, you will triumph,” the monarch said,

Recall that on Monday, January 10, 2022, Tinubu informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his plan to become Nigeria’s next president.

After his meeting with the president, Tinubu told journalists about his plan to go round the country to consult, saying he has no problem doing that.