Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu’s future was hanging in the balance yesterday.

President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be weighing options on Dr Kachikwu’s fate, following his allegations against Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru.

Specifically, Kachikwu alleged that Baru
awarded $25b contracts unilaterally;
ran a bravado management; and
made appointments without consultations.

It was learnt that having found Baru not guilty of corrupt practices, the Presidency gave the GMD the clearance to release a fact-sheet in the matter to the public.


Kachikwu is said to be consulting his associates, stakeholders and colleagues on his next move. He has been cautioned against any act capable of being seen as confrontational, according to a source, who pleaded not to be named because of “the sensitivity of the matter”.

Kachikwu’s associates, it was learnt, cited the travails of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources Prof. Tam David-West’s rough deals with the military administration of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida.

One of the alternatives being suggested by his friends is the possibility of voluntary exit from the cabinet “to preserve his integrity”. It was not clear last night the step Kachikwu would take after it was clear that the Presidency might have backed Baru.

The GMD of NNPC described the $25billion contract figure raised by Kachikwu as “humongous” because “no money was lost and no process has been breached.”

The President, The Nation learnt, felt scandalised by “unfounded allegations of corruption bordering on phantom $25billion contracts”.

The allegations allegedly attracted concerns from other nations and some oil producing countries.


President Buhari, who is said to have felt hurt, by the development, “refused to act on the spur of the moment because his image and the reputation of his administration were involved”.

A top government source said: “The Presidency directed the GMD of NNPC to provide facts and figures, which it got from Baru.

“Thereafter, the NNPC Act, the NNPC Handbook and Public Procurement Act were consulted on the responses of Baru to find out if infractions were committed by the corporation.

“Having been convinced that there were no infractions, the Presidency then directed NNPC to lay the cards on the table for Nigerians to see and judge.

“What was uppermost in the responses of the GMD was the fact that ‘there was no evidence of sharp practices, bribery, looting of funds and diversion of transaction cash’.

“The allegations of Kachikwu were rated as ‘wild, intentional and political in nature’ against the administration he is serving.”

It was learnt that the President met with Kachikwu last Friday to “be fair to the Minister and for record purposes”.

A Presidency source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The President has not spoken on the next action. No one knows his mindset.”

Yesterday’s statement by the NNPC, which was described as an “assault” on Kachikwu by some of his associates, fuelled minister’s thoughts on his Option B which he did not state.

Some of Kachikwu’s confidants have, however, cautioned against any “hasty” decision, given the travails of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, during the military regime of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida.

A highly-placed stakeholder said: “I am aware that the minister has been holding consultations and telling some vital players in the oil sector what transpired.

“Of importance to him is the allegation of alleged plot to sabotage the government of President Buhari with the leakage of the August 20 memo. He has maintained his innocence that he did not leak the letter.

“But it is tragic that no one believes Kachikwu’s story anymore in the Presidency.”

The GMD yesterday dismissed the allegations of award of contracts without regard to due process as “unfounded” and “unfortunate”.

He described the $25billion

full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/presidency-backs-baru.html?m=1

So the North wins against South on technical terms again.

Up North

Before Nko, they will support their Brother. I hate this Government.

Nigeria still divided into 97% and 5%.A non-aboki is never an aboki.Guess all zombie southerners can see the effects of our disunity?

Isn't that obvious. After the president said both sides should keep the peace, the GMD has been busy talking

Keneking:
So the North wins against South on technical terms again.

Up North

Lol

most of the northerners in various positions are members of the nepotistic cabal ruling nigeria,just like hameed Ali,magu,babachir the grass cutter and now baru remain untouchables.

Kachikwu was only appointed by the propaganda govt to make it look like they were appointing an Igbo man even though he is not from the core five southwestern states.
kachikwu who was seen wieldind a cutlass few days back should be encouraged in fighting corruption within government official circle.

Allahu Akbar

I hope Nigeria survives buhari and apc because they are the real threat to our unity not ipob, nda, boko haram
They are the true enemies of our Nigerian state.

Presidency or cabal

Cabal support's Barawo not Presidency, BT as Babachir asked who is d Presidency ?

Buhari Is Corrupt QED

$25b is Missing Those Junks Write up written As Defense Are trash concocted Lies Frm Barawo Baru

Baru And Buhari Are Thieves QED

Omenka

Vedax-idiot
Madrid gay

Come And say trash As Usuall

Ibe Kachikwu should just resign. He has lost the confidence of the president so, there is no point hanging around and getting himself rubbished.

It was obvious the Baru was working under the instruction of Buhari all along and Kachikwu just fell for the change mantra not knowing Buhari is a deceitful tribal snake

Who is presidency? In babachir's voice!

The North/Hausa's will always hate the SE/SS why? We rejected Islam. The SW embraced Islam, they are at peace with the North.

Someone should tell Buhari that we have not...we are not...and we will not accept Islam , so let the hate continue.

I saw it coming.I knew that the cabal will fight back to save Baru's face.I am not surprised.This government is a joke.They have shielded the rogue again.A support for Baru is an endorsement for embezzlement.Nigerians should use ashes to bath Buhari.

K

Nigeria is fvcked up with fvcked up leaders complemented with fvcked up followers, who are mostly trabalistic and ethnic miscreants parading themselves as score northern kinsmen of buhar, at the same time this bigots are chanting one nigeria, deceiving gullible nigerians with restructuring...................it a shame kachikwu is being treated like a caststrated toothless bulldog after all his selfless service to this government, like negotiating with the militants to stop attacks on pipelines, returning oil production to 2.2m barrel from 1.4m, negotiating with OPEC to exclude nigeria from oil production cut, including prosmsing to ban petroluem import by 2019 to acchieve self surffiency, upon all this services, to this government buhari is still bent on keeping mute to protect the interest of his core northern kinsmen..................indeed nigeria is fvckedup.

The baru response made it seem Kachikwu did not understand how NNPC operates.

North 2 - 0 South

When Sanusi drew the worlds attention to the unremitted billions of dollars during GEJ tenure who was fired? Sanusi. What happened to Madueke? Nothing. Someone would sit in the comfort of his home and write rubbish because he knows people without common sense will agree. PMB to sack the minister on what grounds?

Some Nairalanders are extremely hateful, all these vituperations over an hearsay! wonderful! Dr Kachikwu is a competent gentleman whom is well respected by the president, I personally think he shoud be made the substantive minister. However, if Baru had not come out to set the record straight, he might be presumed guilty by the public, hence the necessity to do the needful.
The only allegation that might stuck here is lack of balance appointment which the president himself has to look into, otherwise, there was nothing to be exited about in that memo.
It been established in Baru's reply that due process was not abused, but, I agree that Dr Kachikwu has been disrespected, which is why he should be elevated to avoid any more friction.

""""“Having been convinced that there were no infractions, the Presidency then directed NNPC to lay the cards on the table for Nigerians to see and judge."""

Who told them that there were no infractions. ? ? ?
When the law says, that """the corporation shall submit to the president"" who does the law mean as the corporation ?? Is it GMD of NNPC or the board of NNPC. Our mumu don too much.