EruditorII:
This post I am responding to has as much conjecture as the article.

First, why would Kachikwu deny him audience and then claim he was sidelined and why did Baru not refute this claim about meeting Yemi Osinbajo in his rejoinder?

Second, even Baru will not agree with your claim that PMB did not relinquish his post as NNPC Board chairman to Dr. Kachikwu. In fact, in his rejoinder (which you claimed he successfully defended himself) he admitted that albeit Kachikwu was the head of the NNPC board, that position did not accord him the right to approve contracts and was the exclusive preserve of the NTB.

Yes, Baru made reference to Kachikwu's role. But he also explained quite clearly that NNPC's Contracting Processes are governed by various laws, regulations and policies. He listed them all - about 7 or 8 of those documents. And he also made it clear what aspects fell under the purview of NNPC Board, and what was clearly not part of NNPC Governing Board functions, as well as the aspects that fell solely within the brief of the NNPC Tenders Board, chaired by the GMD. In his statement, Baru said (and I quote):

NNPC had cause to clarify severally from Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) as to the composition of NNPC Tenders Board and the role of NNPC Board appointed by Government. The following clarifications were made.

a. The BPP expressly clarified that NNPC Tenders Board (NTB) is NOT the same as NNPC Board. The governing board (NNPC Board) is responsible for approval of work programmes, corporate plans and budgets, while the NTB is responsible for approval of day-to-day procurement implementation.......

The above clarifications of the provisions of the procurement process, show that approvals reside within the NTB, and where thresholds are exceeded, the NNPC refers to FEC for approval. Therefore, the NNPC Board has no role in contracts approval process as advised by BPP.

As can be seen, all these clarifications were sought and obtained prior to August, 2015 and were implemented by Dr. Kachikwu as the GMD of NNPC. Dr. Kachikwu also constituted the first NNPC Tenders Board on 8th September, 2015 and continued to chair it until his exit in June, 2016.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/245496-breaking-nnpc-scandal-group-managing-director-baru-breaks-silence.html

As for your other question, only Kachikwu can explain why he felt sidelined. Baru refuted Kachikwu's claims of sidelining him in his rejoinder, but obviously you failed to see it. Baru also made a statement which has not been denied till date, by Kachikwu:

Furthermore, contrary to the assertion of Dr. Kachikwu that he was never involved in the 2017/2018 contracting process for the Crude Oil Term Contracts, Dr. Kachikwu was in fact expressly consulted by the GMD and his recommendations were taken into account in following through the laid down procedure. Thus, for him to turn around and claim that “…these major contracts were never reviewed or discussed with me…” is most unfortunate to say the least.

EruditorII:
Next, what is the paper's business with explaining what type of contracts went where and what do you mean lashing out at Baru? Kachikwu was reporting Baru to PMB- that fact is clear to even Blind Bartimaeus.

There is something called investigative journalism. The paper reported a story without getting all sides to the issue and without determining the underlying factors. That is what differentiates a good story from a bad one. For the record, I never said he lashed out at Baru. I said he unleashed his frustrations on Baru. There is a difference. The paper mentioned that Baru failed to refer matters to the NNPC Board, but did not tell us what matters fell under the NNPC Board, and if the issues Baru was accused of not taking to the Board were actually part of those matters that needed to be handled by the NNPC Governing Board.

EruditorII:
Kachikwu hired people from outside the corporation? Is that what anyone claimed the issue was? Did Deziani not do so too? The issue was never about that, but if due process was followed in the appointment. Kachikwu followed the process by having the consent of the Minister and state minister if you please, having received delegated authority from PMB whilst he, Kachikwu occupied the GMD position as well as the State minister's . So your argument falls flat on its head.

Yes, part of the things that paper spoke about, was Baru's request to carry out staff changes. In fact, if you recall what the paper said - the approval that Baru requested from Osinbajo was to cover the redeployment of personnel. That was why I made reference to hiring of staff and personnel changes in my last post. Let me reproduce an excerpt from that paper here:

In his memo to Buhari, Kachikwu stated that when Buhari was unwell in London for several months between May and August, Baru tried to get direct approval from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo — who was acting president at the time — for some personnel changes at the NNPC. But Osinbajo asked Baru to go back to Kachikwu and get his input and approval first before making the changes.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/1129574-how-buhari-allegedly-caused-nnpc-scandal-report.html#1129574

EruditorII:
Left to you Kachikwu failed to manage his staff and stakeholders properly? Thank heavens the decision is not left to you. So Baru was not complicit in insubordination? In disrespecting The state minister? In disobeying the acting president?

You have already exposed where you stand and I am happy that common sense, tenets of pure-mindedness and the spirit of the law do not back you. It is now left to see if PMB will tow the same path as you or the common sense path.

Yes, to me Kachikwu failed to manage his staff properly. A good leader is also expected to be a good team player. For a staff to get so disenchanted with a leader, that he goes elsewhere to seek approval to cover his requests, is not a good sign. Their frosty relationship did not start yesterday. It had been on-going and there are no reports to show that Kachikwu ever made an attempt to diffuse the tension or halt the deterioration, in their relationship. The buck stops at the leader's table.

As I have often repeated, there is no provision in the NNPC Act for a Minister of State to play an operational role in the daily affairs of NNPC. Kachikwu as a lawyer, either did not know that and sought to wield the powers of a full substantive Minister (which he wasn't, by trying to use powers which everyone knew he didn't have), or he probably did not realise the scope of his powers had diminished considerably, after he relinquished the GMD's post, to Baru. PMB needs to come back in and clarify the limits of everyone's roles, powers and responsibilities quite clearly, to prevent further problems between both gentlemen.

PFRB:
Banjo did not fail. Banjo withdrew.

Ojukwu recalled him back to Enugu.

ElsonMorali:

My dear, I tire o. I keep wondering How a group of people can harbour so much hatred and bile towards another people, yet won't leave their terrain. Confused I'll say.

Na so we see am, o! May God deliver us.... And when you show them a clear picture of their hatred, they start denying it vigorously and attempt to portray you as the guilty one. We already know their mindset against other ethnic groups, including our own.

ElsonMorali:

You actually scoured through the dustbin of past NL posts to get all these? Really? Chai.. e No go better for Naija politicians. See what joblessness can cause. Your prayer for a job will be granted this year in Jesus name. Can somebori shout Hallaluuuuyahhh...?

Amen, O! I pray he gets a job quickly. Na so I take laugh scatter ground when I see im post dat time. If someone were to list the anti-Yoruba threads on NL, I am sure it would exceed his own threads by at least 3 to 1.

VBCampaign:

The family has reached out to Gowon a couple of times. He has however never responded to these. It is the reason they have the freedom to speak about these matters in public now.

As for presiding over her matter, except for those blinded by prejudice, most people who know the Banjo story agree that Ojukwu murdered Victor Banjo.

Ojukwu sent Banjo on an impossible assignment. He did not have enough ammunition or trained soldiers to carry out the task. Ojukwu knew Banjo would fail. And that was what he used to set him up, create fraudulent charges against him and eventually kill him.

EruditorII:

Successfully defended and you would not condemn anybody indeed.

https://www.naij.com/1129574-how-buhari-allegedly-caused-nnpc-scandal-report.html

Read this article; you might learn a thing or two.

There is nothing new in the article. It actually contains more conjecture, than fact. The article says Baru got approval from Buhari, but did not say how it was done. The article also says Baru tried to get approval from Osinbajo, but he was asked to go back to Kachikwu. It never said why Baru declined to go back to Kachikwu, or if he actually went and Kachikwu denied him audience.

Again, it is clear that Buhari never relinquished his powers as Petroleum Minister and NNPC Board Chairman, so why didn't Kachikwu take this up directly with the President, instead of unleashing his frustration on Baru?

And finally, the paper fails to make a distinction between the kind of contracts that go to the board, and the ones that fall within the brief of the GMD NNPC.

Kachikwu himself as GMD NNPC hired new people from outside the corporation, to become GEDs. Nobody complained at that time. He redeployed others, and made several new appointments in his capacity as GMD. No one saw anything wrong with it. And please don't tell me that it was because he was Minister of State. That position is not backed by any known law, act or regulation in the petroleum industry.

Left to me, this is an ego clash between Kachikwu and Baru. Kachikwu as a leader has failed to manage his staff and stakeholders, properly. And that is what has caused this fiasco. Kachikwu cannot recognise the limits of his powers, because he is yet to come to terms with the fact that his powers have been reduced considerably, since he is no more the GMD.

9jvirgin:
Our leaders are punishing us by looting, the bloggers are also punishing us with buffoonery and stoopidity. When will God punish our leaders and bloggers?

This is hilarious!

EruditorII:

Where is your own that he delegated his authority as the Petroleum Minister to Yemi Osinbajo?

My claims are more logical than yours simply because Kachikwu and not Yemi Osinbajo is the State Minister of that ministry. Abi if Ameachi is going on sick-leave he can appoint Celestine Omehia to run the transport ministry and leave Sidika stuck in Limbo?

Please, shelve this verbal rigmarole.

Your claims are more logical? In what way? Looking at the practice of a minister may not be the best way to judge what PMB would do, or (has already done) in similar circumstances. If truly PMB delegated his powers as Petroleum Minister to Kachikwu, why hasn't Kachikwu said so all this while? How come no one has made reference to it? You are the one engaging in a verbal rigmarole. So please go ahead and indulge yourself a bit further. As for me, I am waiting to see how Kachikwu would respond to Baru's rejoinder.

EruditorII:

How was anything debunked? You are just throwing red herrings based on Baru's rejoinder. So Kachikwu complained about being sidelined when he was in the know and even took the approvals to FEC on behalf of the ministry? So what does it mean to be sidelined?

Yes I claimed PMB vested all his authority to Kachikwu and common sense backs me up, which is why Kachikwu went to report to PMB. If that were not so, he would have either resigned or asked PMB for more authority instead he was reporting to him and calling Baru insubordinate, disrespectful and mischievous.

Nobody is throwing any red herrings anywhere. It is just a figment of your imagination. At least in the case of Osinbajo, there is documented evidence, that he handed over to Osinbajo all his powers, so that Osinbajo could function in his stead. What proves that he did the same with Kachikwu? Common sense would not be called as a witness, if this case goes to a panel of enquiry, or a tribunal or to court. Baru has successfully defended himself against Kachikwu's allegations, citing relevant laws, regulations, approvals and documents he received. Kachikwu has not responded. Until he does that, I will not condemn anybody.

EruditorII:


All his functions as the PRESIDENT to Yemi Osinbajo. That is why Yemi cannot go to PMBs bedroom to sleep with his wife Aisha. PMB did not delegate his functions as a husband for example to Yemi and neither did he do so as a Petroleum Minister.

Oga where is the evidence that he gave all those powers to Kachikwu, to act in his stead as Petroleum Minister? There is nothing in writing to prove PMB did so. So stop using examples that would not fly. Aisha has nothing to do with this discussion.

EruditorII:

Baru was being smart by half. It is not like Kachikwu said they never spoke at all but that Baru was "selective" in what to say or what meetings to attend.

It is a high possibility that certain issues Baru raised Kachikwu took to FEC on the ministry's behalf. May not have included the contracts or appointments.

Abeg stop supporting mischief just because your political leanings align with Baru.

It is sad that you have refused to see the truth. You first said that Kachikwu did not know anything about the contracts or approvals. It was debunked. Later you claimed that Kachikwu did not submit those documents to FEC. Again this was refuted. Later you claimed that PMB delegated full powers to Kachikwu to act as Petroleum Minister. Again you were asked for evidence which you could not produce. You keep going round in circles. Stop supporting Kachikwu's erroneous beliefs out of nepotism.

Let us wait for Kachikwu to respond to Baru's comments first, before coming to any conclusions.

EruditorII:

You are the one being funny. Since when did acting as the Petroleum Minister become the duty of the president? If PMB knew that his VP would take over the issues pertaining to the Petroleum industry why have a Minister of State?

Ask PMB. He would know. He delegated all his functions to Osinbajo for a reason.

EruditorII:

I said Kachikwu denied doing that. He clearly said he was not in the know and only "read" about such approvals and appointments over the news like everyone else.

That was the initial assertion that Kachikwu made which Baru debunked in his subsequent response, to that Kachikwu's memo. Kachikwu has not come back since then, to say Baru was wrong, or he was telling a lie against him.

EruditorII:

Nope. He was not granted access to see his Petroleum Minister for close to a year where he would have tabled the issue to PMB one on one. Then when he wrote a letter to PMB on the issue, his northern cabal prevented PMB from seeing the letter till it was leaked to the press.

So with all the powers you claimed Kachikwu had, he couldn't see PMB?

EruditorII:


Yea, he said he made such contract approvals through the NTB which he chairs and his GEDs act as floor members. Yea...right. They were going to challenge someone who could reappoint them without the consent of even the President.

As for him claiming he got certain other approvals from the FEC I asked you who tabled the issue to the FEC? You started with PMB and when I said PMB was ill you said he delegated all his authority to Yemi Osinbajo to which I responded The VPonly took over his duties as President not as Petroleum Minister.

Oga, go back and read what I wrote. I stated clearly that Kachikwu tabled those documents to FEC. I never said Baru or PMB did. Baru would not even have been allowed to sit at FEC . So Buhari partitioned his functions and assigned part of it to Osinbajo and the other part to Kachikwu? You are very funny.

PrecisionFx:

There was no war in edo.
No barracks in edo.
no resistance in Edo.

The resistance started in ore.

There was civilian resistance in Edo, please don't tell lies.

On the 20 September 1967, at 8a.m, NBC broadcast the sign the field commanders had been waiting for. “The frogs are swimming; the frogs are swimming.” The CIA’s Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) monitored and recorded key signals, statements and speeches about the war from every radio station in Nigeria, Biafra and neighbouring countries. And they shared them with American Diplomatic/Consular units, CICSTRIKE (Commander In Chief STRIKE – Swift Tactical Response In Every Known Environment), ACSI (Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence), CINCMEAFSA (Commander in Chief Middle East/South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara) and DIA (Defence Intelligence Agency).

Brooks, the attaché posted to Nigeria, analysed The frogs are swimming intelligence thus: “This informed the 2nd Division and the guerrilla bands operating in various areas of the Midwest that elements of Adekunle’s 3rd Division are already ashore from the Escravos/Forcados creeks.”

Hastily marshalled Midwestern militias had been dealing fires to the Biafran occupiers. It was reported that Urhobo, Ijaw and Itsekiri swimmers were diving underwater and organising surprise attacks on Biafran units and formations along the Ethiope River. In Benin too, they reminded themselves they were the city of Ovonramwen Nogbaisi and the Biafran forces were the latest version of the British expedition forces of the 19th century. Rapidly, young men were organising themselves into deadly underground resistance groups. Old people, who could not fight, were contributing money and their dane guns; young women, like Moremi, were reported to be offering their bodies to get close to these Biafran forces and poison their food. https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/02/26/americas-secret-files-on-ojukwu-2/

EruditorII:

You are the one who is wrong. I did not say he awarded contracts as Minister of State but that in occupying both positions the Minister of State and GMD were in the know. Not the case we have today where the GMD does what he likes and claims he has the backing of the President.

After all, we saw how PMB had to send some people back from London who came to ask for his approval of certain things even after Osinbajo had given such approvals. He told them to simply listen to his vice to whom he had delegated all his authority to. Which begs the question - if PMB was in the know, why then is Kachikwu reporting to him?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Ask Kachikwu why he was reporting to PMB. Kachikwu did not know the limit of his powers or he had lost sight of it. That is what led to this fiasco.

EruditorII:


Sorry but this is unadulterated sophistry. Osinbajo was exactly this and nothing more which includes being Petroleum Minister in PMBs stead. Or should be assume Osinbajo was also allowed to take Aisha to za oza room when PMB was away?

Oga, you can call it whatever you want. The truth is clear to everyone. Buhari delegated his functions as President and Petroleum Minister to Osinbajo to act on his behalf in terms of matters pertaining to the nation, when he was away. This is on record. End of story.

EruditorII:


So what evidence have you provided to show that PMB entertained Baru's direct requests? Nothing because he did not. He was not aware which is why Kachikwu is "reporting" the issue to him.

Baru was just making approvals on his own and pretending to be doing so under the guise of working through the NTB

You were the one that claimed Baru was going directly to Buhari to get approvals., weren't you? Wasn't that why you said he sidelined Kachikwu? Weren't you the one who said Kachikwu did not submit documents to FEC for approval but Baru? I merely responded to your earlier comment. There is nothing in writing to say Baru made approvals on his own. He clearly explained how each approval was obtained and the relevant laws guiding each one. Go back and read Baru's comments all over again.

EruditorII:


The Act did not need to recognize the Minister of state. The Minister of state gets his powers through delegation and he was delegated all the functions of the full Minister whilst still maintaining the appellation "State Minister". If that were not so, PMB should have in the same vein appointed himself the chairman of the NNPC board (which is usually assigned to the Pet minister) instead he appointed Dr. Kachikwu to chair the NNPC board (thinking it gave him oversight functions over Baru) and Baru knows it.

That is why it was pure mischief to still bypass and claim he was getting his approvals from the president himself. That was a wanton show of insubordination on his part even though he is hiding behind the BPPs recommendation to do so.

PMB should either appoint Dr. Kachikwu the full Minister of Petroleum Resources, Publicly and legally delegate all his authority to him or fire him and watch what will happen to the O&G sector.

You can't use his clout, name and face to spearhead the reforms but then denigrate him through ethnic biases and bigotry.

You are wrong. The NNPC ACT is what prescribes the functions the NNPC is expected to carry out and ascribes roles and responsibilities to the relevant parties. So everyone takes their bearing from that law. Show us where Kachikwu was given those powers to award contracts in writing, as Minister of State. Most of the reforms Kachikwu carried out were done when he was GMD NNPC, and reporting to Buhari, who was substantive Petroleum Minister. His actions were backed by NNPC Act and other relevant laws, because as GMD NNPC even if he wasn't Minister of State, he could carry out such reforms, once he had the backing of the Petroleum Minister - Buhari.

Nobody used Kachikwu's clout to carry out anything. He was fulfilling his duties at that time as GMD NNPC, but when that role ended, his powers were greatly reduced.

EruditorII:


No, the "crime" here is in not following the spirit of the recommendation by BPP. Indeed, when BPP prescribed that advice Kachikwu was acting minister and GMD. In effect, both Minister and GMD were represented in that board through him. And Baru was congnizant of this fact that is why instead of seeking Kachikwu's approval he claimed he was going directly to the PMB - which is a lie because PMB vested his authority as the full minister to Kachikwu and not Yemi Osinbajo or whoever you claimed. Osibanjo was only coordinator of the economy. That was the term constructed.

Please provide evidence that Buhari vested his powers as Petroleum Minister in Kachikwu, when he was away. We don't need to rely on hearsay. The same Buhari that did not leave a handover note for Osinbajo the first time he went on leave? If Buhari vested his full powers as Petroleum Minister in Kachikwu, he would not have entertained Baru's direct requests, without asking him to pass it through Kachikwu.

Osinbajo was acting President, with full powers to act in Buhari's absence. Senate was aware of this and there was written documented evidence to this effect!

EruditorII:


Yes the GMD relates with the Petroleum minister but not necessarily with respect to matters involving contract approvals. That is why Deziani got a couple GMDs fired at will - whenever they tried to be smart by half and went behind her back. Which is what Baru was doing while pretending to be following the law.

As for your second point, it is null and void because Kachikwu refuted that claim through his post.

Kachikwu has not responded to Baru's letter. So when was it refuted? As for Diezani, we all know that GEJ was weak, and he abdicated many of his powers in relation to the Petroleum sector, to Diezani. She could hire and fire at will, because GEJ allowed her to do so, and we can all see the result today. Buhari has not given Kachikwu such powers and freedom, like GEJ gave to Diezani. And that is where the issue lies. Kachikwu wants to exert powers over Baru, that are not backed by law with respect to approvals and contracts. There is no law, regulation or constitutional role for a Minister of State to interfere in NNPC daily functions, with respect to issue of contracts. Baru knows that. Buhari too, knows that. But Kachikwu does not, and wants to exercise powers over NNPC, that have not been assigned to him by law.

Izonpikin:
who else but the old dullard..

Who is the dullard?

Izonpikin:
Kachikwu fell my hands when he chose to continue as minister of state for petroleum.. that was a trashy move..allowing an illiterate bigot run the ministry of petroleum whilst he complains from behind ..

There is no provision for the role of Minister of State in the NNPC Act. So Kachikwu just wants to exercise powers that are not backed by law over NNPC.

Varys:
Wait oh! Since when did Nairaland start pushing reports from unverified sources published by unknown news outlet to the front page.

Now to the nonsense story. Is NNPC md part of the FEC? Who tabled the 26 billion dollars contract at the FEC? What date was the contract tabled? Cos i know major news outlets including NTA always give reports of contracts awarded at the FEC. Was Kachikwu present on the day the contract was tabled.

Pls people, let's remove sentiment and be patriotic. Some people should not be allowed to steal our collective wealth without being punished for it. Transparency and Accountability was what Buhari promised us and that was what people like me voted for!

Kachikwu presented the papers for approval to FEC at an earlier date, as he was a member of FEC. Now, based on the approvals, Baru went ahead to issue contracts to cover the approved projects, in his capacity as GMD NNPC. And that is what is upsetting Kachikwu. He wanted to be the one issuing the contracts like he did in the past, when he was both GMD NNPC/Minister of State. But Baru is the one who is now GMD NNPC, and he exercised those powers to issue contracts, based on the approvals he received earlier from FEC. Kachikwu felt sidelined, and raised allegations of corruption and insubordination against Baru.

omololu2020:
France,Spain etc does not recognise Kosovo as a country, but Kosovo is an independent country.
Who France recognition EPP?

And what has Kosovo achieved so far?

Ah, things are starting to happen. They think that getting independence is like cooking moi-moi. Let us see how many countries will recognise them. Most countries are busy trying to protect their borders and keep their territories, intact. So no country wants to be seen as a supporter of instability. EU is going to give them the cold shoulder now.

zenmaster:

Luv is blind.
Just arrange for me to meet with them

God forbid bad thing.

venai:
Kosi were!

I wish the same of whatever that means.

iamleumas:

Please how will I go about NYSC stuff then or will I apply after completing my service?

Go and ask them in the education section of NL Or go and ask your lecturers.

zenmaster:

no cousins?

None, that would be interested in you.

venai:
Too much hatred! Do not allow igbo/yoruba nuisance on nairaland to influence you.

No, I leave the hate and pretence to your people. They are rather good at it. No one can beat them when it comes to hate, lies and propaganda. Na dem get am!