‘How Kachikwu Is Technically Preparing Ground For Okowa’s Re-election In 2019’

…As Pro-Buhari Group Accuses Him Of Being A Mole In Delta APC

The group, Buhari Movement For Change (BMC) has alleged that Minister for State Petroleum, Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu is a mole in the Delta State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The group claimed that Kachikwu has been in ‘hot romance’ with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in a grand plot to kill the party ahead the 2019 general elections.

According to them, Kachikwu who was in alleged alliance deal with Governor Okowa had promoted PDP interest in the state more than his party, APC.

Specifically, they alleged that the Petroleum Resources Minister was frustrating investors in the oil and gas industry in Delta State that are leaders of APC, thus giving PDP members edge over the opposition party.

According to the group, the manner Kachikwu had carried himself shows he is a PDP mole in Delta State who only pretend to be an APC member at the national level.

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In a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, signed by its President,  Prince David Iwere, Secretary, Mr. Erefoluwa Keka and Public Relations Officer, Dr. Emiko Ofuyaekpone and obtained by BigPen Online on Monday, the group claim that rather than take up leadership responsibility in the party,  Kachikwu was conniving with PDP-led administration in the state to kill the party.

“We are constrained to publicly draw your attention to actions of the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, which almost killed the growth of All Progressives Congress in Delta State in favour of Peoples Democratic Party.

“Rather than take up leadership responsibility of APC in Delta State, ensuring that members of the party are united with a view to taking over administration of Delta State Government House in 2019, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu is working with Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP under the guise of being a technocrat.

“We have it on good authority that Dr. Kachikwu hobnobs and patronizes Governor Okowa as well as businessmen who are members of PDP, thus frustrating investors in Delta State that are leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC.

“In-fact, most of our APC leaders who have shown capacity, professionalism and have structures on ground in the Oil and Gas sector, are virtually going out of business, while their counterparts in the PDP are flourishing and even taking glory for your administration’s achievements in that sector.

“Mr. President, whenever APC leaders in the State are privileged to ask the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources what his relationship with businessmen who are members of PDP intends to achieve, his excuse will be that he’s wooing them to APC, but till date, none of such associates of Dr. Kachikwu are in APC, instead they continue to enjoy stronger political and economic ties with Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa”.

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They alleged that the counter-productive decoy of Dr. Kachikwu started when he was appointed as then Group Managing Director of NNPC/Minister of State For Petroleum Resources.

“We would be tempted to mention the names of the PDP businessmen and their companies, which Dr. Kachikwu patronized to promote the fortune of PDP in the Niger Delta at large and Delta State in particular in subsequent publications.

“This has become imperative as a result of the faulty foundation Dr. Kachikwu laid, which is today being used to railroad and blackmail the current GMD of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kachalla Baru and the MD of NPDC, Yusuf S. Matashi into doing the bidding of PDP against your administration’s agenda as well as that of the APC”.

They said that Kachikwu and Dr. Baru had schemed out APC members in Delta State who are indigenous investors in the oil and gas industry from taking up roles because they don’t want to empower APC as a party in the state.

The pro-Buhari group accused Kachikwu and GMD of NNPC of awarding pipeline maintenance/surveillance jobs to members of PDP, even though records show that oil and gas investors in the Niger Delta, particularly in Delta State, determine political leadership and party growth.

“We dare to say that the body language of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu is technically preparing the ground for Dr. Okowa’s re-election in 2019.

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“At this juncture, we must stress that all efforts will be geared towards the victory of Delta State APC Governorship candidate in the 2019 polls, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, no matter the antics of PDP moles in the APC, who are thriving as a result of appointments they got from your administration.

“While there are indications that Dr. Kachikwu may be fueling the divisive tendencies in our great party, APC in Delta State, we equally heard from credible sources that Dr. Kachikwu was advised by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to drop the three Political Advisers recommended to him by leaders of the APC in Delta State.

“It must be noted that the essence of the appointments, which was aborted halfway by Dr. Kachikwu, was to create a fertile ground for APC to have stronger roots in Delta South, Delta Central and Delta North senatorial districts of the state.

“Mr. President, we want to respectfully appeal to you to keep a close watch of some members of your cabinet, who are sabotaging your efforts with a view to terminating their appointments since they have become fifth columnists in your administration.

“Dr. Kachikwu should be directed to desist from the deliberate economic shut-out of APC members in the oil and gas sector in Delta State and stop romancing with PDP led Delta State government to the detriment of APC members, since we only have few months to the 2019 elections and our short term target is to ensure that you win the entire Niger Delta apart from other parts of the country”

They said that their sacrificial efforts to work for Buhari’s victory during the 2015 polls amid intimidating opposition from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had been justified in the last three and half years, through visible infrastructural projects across the country.

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They maintained that the projects that looked like a mirage in Delta State during the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration have become reality for doubting Thomases to see and verify for themselves.

The group however highlighted some of President Buhari’s developmental stride in the state to include: ongoing Dredging of Escravos Bar/ Warri River in Warri South- West, Warri South and Warri North Local Government Areas,  Infrastructural uplift and resumption of academic activities at Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Warri South- West Local Government Area.

They also commended Buhari in his efforts in the revitalization of the moribund DSC, Ovwian- Aladja, now being operated by Premium Steel and Mines Limited, PSML, construction of the Itakpe- Ajaokuta- Warri (AladjaJetty) Railway Line and from Aladja to Warri Town Port, Refinery and from Itakpe to Abuja.

They also named the construction of Tebu-Gbokoda pavement Road Network for Olero Creek, Warri North Local Government Area, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Amukpe- Eku- Abraka-Umutu-Agbor (Edo State Border).

They also hailed Mr. President on the recent FEC approval of the $64.2m Escravos Power Project, the federal government schools feeding programme, the Immeasurable educational support to public schools in the State through the engagement of N-Power recruitment programmes among others.

Meanwhile, Kachikwu and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Charles Aniagwu couldn’t respond to calls to their mobile phone but a Delta State government official who didn’t want his name mentioned, said that it was not true that the Minister was in any alliance with the Governor.

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According to him, in election year people tend to brandish all sorts of allegations to score political points, saying Kachikwu’s alleged ‘romance’ will bring no value to Okowa’s reelection.