Tinubu Flays Kachikwu Over Fuel Scarcity Comment

Former Governor Lagos State and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has criticized the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu over the comments he made in reference to the lingering fuel scarcity. Mr Kachikwu had told Nigerians that he “was not trained as a magician” who could end the fuel scarcity.

According to Tinubu, the minister was a public servant meant to serve and was answerable to Nigerians and not the other way round. The APC national leader made this known on Saturday in a 10-paragraph statement titled, ‘Kachikwu Needs to Know That Respect and Good Performance Will Do What Magic Cannot.’

“I make no attempt to hide it. I am an avid and partisan supporter of this government and of the progressive policies of the party, the APC, upon which this government is based,” part of the statement by the ex-governor read.
Tinubu added, “With that, I do reserve the right and the duty as a Nigerian to voice my opinion when I believe a member of this government has strayed from the progressive calling required of this administration. I do this because my greater devotion and love are for this nation and its people. Party and politics fall secondary.

“Much public ire has been drawn to the statement made by the Minister of State (for Petroleum Resources) Ibe Kachikwu that he was not trained as a magician and that basically Nigerians should count themselves fortunate that the NNPC under his stewardship has been able to bring in the amount of petrol it is currently doing.

“Perhaps the statement by Kachikwu was made in a moment of unguarded frustration or was an awkward attempt at a joke. Whatever the motive, it was untimely and off-putting. The remark did not sit well with the Nigerian people; they were as right to feel insulted as the minister was wrong to have said such a thing.

“The fuel shortage is severely biting for the average person. They are forced to remain in lines far too long — for too much time — to pay too much money for too little fuel. This is no joking matter. Livelihoods and people’s welfare are at stake.
In more excerpts from the statement, Tinubu accused the minister of saying that Nigerians are lucky they were getting the inadequate supply they suffered and should continue to enjoy the scarcity.

“With so much on the line, Kachikwu’s flippancy was out-of-line. He was basically telling Nigerians that they should be lucky that they are getting the inadequate supply they now suffer and that they should just be quiet and endure the shortage for several weeks more.”

Tinubu spoke further, “He is a public servant. The seat he sits upon is owned by Nigerians, not by him. The company he runs is owned by Nigerians, not by him. They are his boss. He is not theirs. Power is vested in the people. He is a mere custodian or agent of their will.
“In talking to us in such a manner, he committed an act of insubordination. If he had talked so cavalierly to his boss in the private sector, he would have been reprimanded or worse. If wise, the man should refrain from such interjections in the future.
Tinubu also demanded an apology be rendered to Nigerians
“As his ultimate bosses, the people have a right to demand the requisite performance and respect from him. He should apologise for treating them so lightly in this instance.”

Vanguard reportage

When some people had the chance to make the lives of the poor masses better,they didnt do it,so excuse me but how dare you be the one to call out someone?Anyone else can call out Kachikwu but please not TINUBU...NOT TINUBU abeg!