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of over 25 Civil Society Organisations of Northern extraction both at home and diaspora, has explained why it withdrawn its call for the sack of NNPC management over the current persistent scarcity of petroleum products across the nation.
Newsmen reports that the coalition, had on Feb. 20, called for the sack of the NNPC management.
Withdrawing its earlier stands in a statement issued to pressmen on Monday in Kaduna, Spokesperson of the Forum, Cmrd. Abdulsalam Kazeem, said since their call for the removal of the management of NNPC, and prosecution of importers involved in the contaminated fuel, there had been misgivings and misreading of their demands especially by individuals and groups who profiteer from the crisis situations.
Kazeem said that it became inevitable to put their position clear, noting that it has no political affiliation or influence nor been sponsored by any individual or groups.
"Our call was borne out of patriotism over the hardship occasioned by the scarcity of premium motor spirit and the huge economic impact of the bad fuel at a time government is battling with dwindling revenue.
He added that in view of new information at the Forum's disposal and the attempts by certain special interests to hijack their demand and use their position to blackmail the NNPC's management over the current artificial PMS scarcity occasioned by marketers dispensing fewer pumps at a time, they resolved to take necessary actions.
He further stated that following the operational error of methanol in PMS which remained an unforeseen problem, the forum renewed it backings on the call for thorough investigation as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari and urge security agencies to conclude the probe in good time and sanction all those responsible.
"We commend the management of the NNPC for taking prompt action by alerting the nation on the bad fuel and for taking measured steps to recall the bad product and injecting over 700 million litres and the promise of additional 2.1billion litres to address the shortfall,"he said.
He urged regulatory and security agencies to ensure that fuel stations sell at the maximum installed capacity.
"In the event any station found sabotaging government’s effort, the product be dispensed free to motorists and such station sealed.
"We withdraw our notice for the sack of the NNPC management and nationwide protest but remain committed to the sanctioning of the importing companies and their officials", Kazeem stressed.
He thanked the intervention of the Department of State Security Service, the Police and their Grand Patron.
=========
Other stories redirected to Pulse.ng
I was misquoted - Tinubu clarifies 'I'm ready to get dirty' speech
Sen. Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, has said that the Vanguard newspaper report on his speech was inaccurate and erroneous.
Tinubu, reacting in a statement by his Media Aide, Mr Tunde Rahman, on Monday in Lagos said that the lead report by Vanguard newspaper captioned, “I’m ready to get dirty – Tinubu” was taken out of its right context, claiming he vowed to fight dirty if there were plans to halt his presidential ambition in 2023.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the All Progressives (APC) Chieftain, had on Sunday, Feb. 20, gone on consultation and engagement visit to the Olubadan-Designate, Sen. Lekan Balogun, in Ibadan.
Speaking during the visit, Tinubu, referring to some of the unwarranted attacks against him, used the metaphor of wrestling with the pig, saying “if you decide to wrestle with the pig, you must be ready to get dirty.”
The statement, however, explained that the APC chieftain’s statement was taken out of its right context claiming he vowed to fight dirty if there were plans to halt his presidential ambition in 2023.
“This caption and report are inaccurate and erroneous. Sadly, the wrong headline and story have been latched on by some online platforms/blogs and commentators to pour invective on my person.
“These commentaries and remarks are unfortunate because they are groundless, misinformed and misdirected. Hence, this clarification has become imperative,” he said.
Tinubu stressed that at no time during the visit and in his speech did he indicate that he would fight dirty for his presidential ambition.
He added that his words were carefully chosen stating that the people did not lend credence to such interpretation as given by the Vanguard newspaper.
For clarity, Tinubu, while addressing the Olubadan designate, said: “Kabiyesi, all I have come for is to beg you to continue to pray for me, the entire Yoruba race and the country.
“I am out to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and there is a wise saying that if you want to wrestle with the pig, be ready to get dirty and deal with the poo-poo.
“I am ready to get dirty. No intimidation, no blackmail, no sort of insult will get me angry to the extent that I will say no more, I don’t want again.”
He, therefore. appealed to the media as the 2023 election approaches, and at all times, not to allow their mediums and platforms to be deployed in the desperate smear campaigns and campaigns of calumny by politicians.
Tinubu stated that the people of the Fourth Estate of the Realm owe themselves and the society to report accurately and objectively without fear or favour.
“The duty of the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm is a sacred one which must be guarded jealously,” he said.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
Don’t miss a thing! Get notifications for important news & events right in your browser
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
No comments:
Post a Comment