Ex-NNPC GMDs suggesting fuel price hike working for Buhari’s enemies –Senator Sabi

The Senate on Monday warned those calling for another increment in pump price of fuel, to desist, as such development is not needed with the present economic situation in Nigeria.

Spokesman of the Senate, Senator Abdullahi Aliyu Sabi, stated this while speaking to journalists in Abuja.

Senator Sabi urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to buy the ideas of the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Directors (GMDs).

He warned the Federal Government to be mindful of the activities of the former NNPC bosses who made the suggestion, adding that, though they parade themselves as advisers, they may be agents of enemies of the present administration with given tasks to pull government down.

The former GMDs of the NNPC had at the weekend, called for an upward review of the price of petrol, saying that the present price cap of N145 per litre is not in line with current economic realities.

A statement by the NNPC, quoted the GMDs as proposing this at a one-day meeting with the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Kacalla Baru and the immediate past GMD and current Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ibe Kachikwu in Abuja.

Dani however said, ”First and foremost, let me say that these are my personal opinion. I’m not making this submission as spokesman of the Senate, which means the position of the Senate. But I’m saying this in capacity as Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who represents the good people of Niger North Senatorial District.

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“I read the newspaper report and I was disturbed, worried and I think for all intents and purposes, I’m very much disappointed.

“First and foremost, let’s underpin the issue as follows: I saw it clearly: former Group managing Directors – almost all of them numbering close to 10 or so. And what came to my mind is that how did we get here?

“The NNPC as an institution was expectedly the life wire of this nation. As we have all known, refineries that we have in Nigeria have not been functional because if they have been functional and if that institution had been up and doing in tandem with its peers in other countries that have similar resource endowment as us, we would not be where we are today.

“For crying out loud, all of these former GMDs, can they be said to be free of blame on how we got here?” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Kachikwu and Baru, also on Monday said that there was no plan by the Federal Government to hike the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

 

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