House Reps Members Clash Over Probe of NNPCL Operations Under Kyari
By Matthew Eloyi
A rift is brewing among members of the House of Representatives over the proposed investigation into the operations of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) under Mr. Mele Kyari.
On Saturday, a group of House members placed adverts in three national dailies, urging the Joint Committee of the House on Downstream and Mainstream to investigate Kyari’s activities.
The group, allegedly led by Rep. Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake, Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), included the signatures of 118 legislators.
The advert demanded a fair hearing in the probe of Kyari and labeled any calls for his resignation as premature and unnecessary.
The lawmakers urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard calls for Kyari’s resignation or dismissal, advocating instead for support of Tinubu’s efforts to reform the nation’s oil sector.
However, controversy arose when some of the supposed signatories denied giving their consent for the publication.
Rep. Sesoo Ikpaher, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport, Rep. Tochukwu Okere, and Rep. Toyin Fayinka were among those who distanced themselves from the advert.
Rep. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House, also denied endorsing the publication despite being listed as a signatory.
Agbese, who had previously urged Tinubu to fire Kyari, explained that although the lawmakers behind the advert sought his consent, he had asked for time to respond as he was observing his prayers. He was surprised to find his name included without his approval.
Another anonymous lawmaker told newsmen that he was unaware of the advert’s contents before its publication, stating, “I would have advised against it. Those behind it called me and said they were working on something; I didn’t know it was an advertisement they were working on.”
It is worth noting that Agbese and a group of other lawmakers, under the banner of Energy Reforms and Economic Prosperity, had previously called for Kyari’s removal, accusing him of hindering the growth of the oil sector and stalling the nation’s economic progress.
