Lere Olayinka, a prominent chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti State, has called on President Bola Tinubu to dismiss the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kolo Kyari, due to the ongoing petrol scarcity affecting the nation.
Olayinka, who served as a media aide to former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, criticized NNPCL’s explanation that recent fuel shortages were caused by rain, lightning, and thunderstorms. He questioned the plausibility of such weather conditions leading to fuel scarcity in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world.
His criticism extended to NNPCL’s Vice-President (Downstream), Dapo Segun, who attributed the scarcity to adverse weather conditions during a recent press conference in Abuja. Olayinka argued that this excuse highlights the management’s lack of understanding of how to resolve the fuel shortage, which has persisted for over two months and driven prices up to ₦1,200.00-₦1,500.00 per liter in many parts of the country.
Reflecting on the situation, Olayinka remarked, “In the past, Nigerians would hear that the dry season was to blame for electricity shortages. Now, we’re hearing that rain, lightning, and thunderstorms are being used as excuses for fuel shortages. What a shame!”
“This, to me, is the height of demonstration of cluelessness by Mele Kyari and his team, and in the interest of Nigerians who are bearing the pains of this over two months of fuel scarcity, President Tinubu should show the NNPCL GMD and his team the exit door so that competent people can be appointed to run the affairs of the organization.”
Describing Mele Kyari, as “Mr Promise and Fail,” Olayinka said; “When he took office in 2019, he boasted that all the country’s four refineries will be made to work before the end of President Buhari’s govt in 2023.”
“This is 2024, not a single of the four refineries is working. How can the same Mele Kyari still be directing the affairs of NNPCL?”
“Methinks President Tinubu needs to show his seriousness about fixing Nigeria, by weeding the NNPCL of this obviously incompetent management team led by Mele Kyari.”
