Barring a change of decision, presidency sources have hinted that President Bola Tinubu is not interested in sacking the board and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL at the moment.
The source, who preferred not to be named said that a recent report claiming that the president was planning to appoint Ahmadu Musa Kida who is a former managing director of Total Oil as the new NNPCL board chairman to replace Pius Akinyelure did not go down well with the president as such rumors affect the oil industry’s stability.
The source recalled that a recent report falsely claimed that the president had even replaced the current NNPCL GCEO, Mele Kyari, with a former Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPco, Bayo Ojulari, with Roland Ewubare as Group Chief Operating Officer of the oil company.
“It is not in the character of Mr. President to treat badly the people he has shared long-standing relationships with. The Board Chairman of NNPCL is his long-term ally,” said a source who spoke to our correspondent.
“In fact, the president refers to him as his boss, giving their history dating from his Mobil Oil days. Besides, His Excellency is comfortable with the strides made under the leadership and guidance of Chief Akinyerule and the Board Chair of NNPCL.
“It is even laughable to read that the man Roland who resigned from NNPC back then will be COO, when there is no position like that in the new NNPCL.
“Roland is a very competent hand, but he has left the system. Are you aware he made a comeback at a time this government came into existence? But he was told that there was no need to change the leadership of the company since they are performing.
“The PIA does not have a provision for PIA, so where is such news and position coming from? These are part of the things that GCFR is not happy with,” the source added.
It was also gathered that the president had not shown interest in change of management at NNPCL as their contract and term in office is stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
Mr Kyari who was the GMD of the former NNPC was appointed GCEO of the new CAMA company by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
His tenure was recently renewed by President Tinubu in November 2023.
However, our correspondent gathered that some persons who are known to have the ears of the President have been cashing out from those who have interest in coming onboard the NNPCL’s management and board.
The forces, it was gathered, have been sponsoring media reports to justify the appointments, for which they collected money.
“If the President is going to ever tamper with the board of NNPCL, it won’t be on the pages of newspapers and online but announced officially by the senior media aide,” said the source.
