… Say Its A Plot to Undermine Tinubu’s Administration and Reverse Oil Sector Reforms
…Warns Saboteurs to Desist or Face Public Exposure
The Amalgamated Civil Societies of Nigeria (ACN) has raised the alarm over what it describes as a coordinated smear campaign against Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari, the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). According to the group, the attacks are being orchestrated by disgruntled elements within the oil industry, referred to as the “Dirty Oil Mafia,” who are intent on reversing the progress achieved during Kyari’s tenure.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by Comrade Wale Adegoke (Convener) and Malam Musa Abdullahi (Secretary), the ACN revealed that thorough investigations had uncovered a plot by faceless actors to blackmail Kyari and falsely portray him as a liability to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“These elements, driven by unexplained motives, are attempting to pit the current administration against Mr. Kyari through a barrage of extortion, propaganda, and unsubstantiated claims,” the statement said. “Their tactics include spreading fallacies, unverifiable allegations, and staging fake protests, all aimed at tarnishing the image of a man who transformed Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
The coalition condemned the alleged smear campaign in its entirety, describing it as the handiwork of oil monopolists threatened by Kyari’s reforms. It noted that these groups are seeking to return Nigeria to an era of total dependence on fuel imports and to reverse gains made in energy security.
According to the ACN, one of Kyari’s major offenses in the eyes of the oil cabal was his refusal to sideline companies like Oando PLC in favor of monopolistic interests. “These are the same individuals who, after mismanaging privatised national assets, now resort to blackmail and lies to shield their failures,” the group stated.
Dismissing recent rumors of Kyari’s arrest or investigation as “baseless fabrications,” the ACN described the claims as part of a broader effort by fifth columnists to destabilize the petroleum sector and undermine President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement also praised Kyari’s “legacy of patriotism,” citing his resistance to non-competitive acquisition of national assets and unethical deals. “Nigerians are witnesses to Kyari’s integrity and vision. He deserves peace and recognition, not persecution, after five years of meritorious service,” the group declared.
While acknowledging the right of the new NNPCL GMD, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, to chart a fresh path for the company, the ACN warned against attempts to mischaracterize administrative changes as a repudiation of Kyari’s tenure.
In a final warning to the alleged conspirators, the ACN declared, “Enough is enough. Nigeria belongs to a generation committed to competence, competition, and progress, not monopoly. We shall resist any further attempt to tarnish patriotic citizens like Kyari.”
The group called on Nigerians, the media, and government institutions to remain vigilant and not fall for divisive propaganda, asserting that Kyari’s legacy is a national asset worth defending.
