News

Nigerian Professionals Abroad Rally for Mele Kyari, Plan UK Honor Event

Published

2 months ago

August 21, 2025

Nigeria Professionals in Diaspora (NPID) held a world press conference in London today, condemning what they described as “baseless attacks” and unwarranted restrictions on the personal accounts of the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari

The group warned that such actions risk deterring Nigerian professionals abroad from returning to serve their homeland.

Addressing journalists, NPID President Dr. Olawale Oguntonade expressed dismay at the treatment of Kyari, a reformer lauded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for transforming Nigeria’s oil sector.

“This type of vindictive attack is not good for Nigeria,” Oguntonade declared.

“It sends a wrong signal to hardworking professionals who may consider returning to serve their fatherland. If a man like Mele Kyari, who gave his all to reposition NNPCL, can be harassed, what encouragement remains for diaspora Nigerians?”

The NPID highlighted President Tinubu’s public commendations of Kyari’s achievements. In August 2023, Tinubu hailed Kyari as a reformer who repositioned the oil industry to attract global investors during the signing of a $7 billion gas deal.

In October 2023, the president praised Kyari’s dedication, noting that under his leadership, NNPCL recorded profits for the first time in 44 years, transitioning from a loss-making entity to a profit-making giant.

The NPID outlined Kyari’s transformative contributions to Nigeria’s oil sector, including: Financial Turnaround: Under Kyari’s leadership, NNPCL declared profits of ₦287 billion in 2020, ₦674 billion in 2021, and a record-breaking ₦3.3 trillion in 2023.

“Transparency Drive: Kyari introduced the Transparency, Accountability, and Performance Excellence (TAPE) Initiative, publishing audited financial statements for the first time in NNPCL’s history.

“Major Projects: He spearheaded initiatives like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, the Kolmani Integrated Oil & Gas Development Project, and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.

“Investor Confidence: Kyari resolved disputes with international oil companies, paving the way for investments like the $10 billion Bonga South-East deepwater project.

“Fuel Supply Stability: Through “Operation White,” he curbed fuel smuggling and ensured a stable supply of petroleum products nationwide.

“These are concrete results that no amount of propaganda can erase,” Oguntonade stated.

The NPID urged President Tinubu, whom they praised for delivering democratic dividends and steering Nigeria away from economic collapse, to intervene and protect Kyari from “disgruntled elements.”

The group alleged that these attacks stem from individuals who lost access to corrupt practices in NNPCL due to Kyari’s reforms.

“Mr. President, history will not forgive us if we allow enemies of progress to destroy reformers,” Oguntonade said, calling for Kyari to receive a national honor rather than persecution.

While commending the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its anti-corruption efforts, the NPID criticized its actions against Kyari as misguided.

“Public service is not a crime,” Oguntonade emphasized.

“Targeting reformers like Kyari discourages Nigerians in the diaspora from returning to serve and risks demoralizing dedicated patriots at home.”

The NPID demanded the immediate lifting of any restrictions on Kyari and called for an investigation into the sponsors of the attacks, whom they described as beneficiaries of a dismantled corrupt oil cartel. In a bold move, the group announced plans to honor Kyari in the United Kingdom in November 2025, with President Tinubu and the UK Prime Minister as special guests. The event will celebrate Kyari’s reforms, integrity, and service to Nigeria.

The NPID warned that allowing such attacks to persist could deter thousands of Nigerian professionals abroad from contributing to national development. “Today, it is Mele Kyari; tomorrow, it could be another patriot,” Oguntonade said. “Nigeria must protect her reformers, not persecute them.”

The group reaffirmed its unwavering support for Kyari, declaring, “His legacy cannot be destroyed by those who failed to hold Nigeria captive under their corrupt grip.”

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Politics

Wike’s Loyalists in PDP Suspend Acting Chairman Damagum, Spokesman Ologunagba, Others

Published

6 hours ago

November 2, 2025

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

The Peoples Democratic Party has plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announcing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman.

He stated, “First of all, we want to commend the judiciary over the judgment of yesterday, which is a victory for the entire PDP members all over. Nobody can claim victory over the judgment of the court. It is a judgment against impunity, against illegality. We promote unity, peace, and cohesion in the party.

“Having said that, the party did not overlook the activities of some members of the NWC who have already decided to cause disaffection in the party, which has made most of our leaders and governors leave the party in droves. I would say that this is the time to arrest such a situation and call it to order.

“On this note, after the emergency meeting, we decided, as a party, to suspend Ambassador Damagum, the National Chairman of the party, for incompetence, misappropriation of party funds, and flagrant disobedience of court judgments. We decided that we should suspend him for one month, and we will send him to the Disciplinary Committee for him to be able to answer questions.

“Secondly, we have overwhelming evidence against the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. We have seen the frequent press releases by the National Publicity Secretary which was confirmed that even at a point, the then National Vice Chairman suspended him for appearing or defending the party because of the unapproved frequent press releases. For us to have sanity in the party, we have suspended him.”

Anyanwu also announced the suspension of the National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, accusing him of failing to properly advise Damagum against engaging in anti-party activities and reckless behavior.

He continued, “On that note, he is also suspended for 30 days. Now, we talk about the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro. We have discovered that in the last few days and months, there have been congresses and sales of forms meant for our congresses, which were bought and paid into two different accounts controlled by the National Financial Secretary. So, on this note, he has been suspended, and we are sending him to the Disciplinary Committee. We are also going to involve the financial agencies to look into those activities.

“Again, the Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, PDP Youth all over, if you watched yesterday, the youth leaders all over the country met and said that they don’t want Mohammed Kandede to be their youth leader again because he has never activated the youth wing of our party, and that wing has been abandoned. For that reason, he has also been suspended for one month.

“Finally, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo who is supposed to be my deputy, is also suspended for one month. He resumed the office of the National Secretary illegally, signed all kinds of letters, especially to some states, where he has caused disaffection among our party members in those states. For that reason, he has also been suspended for 30 days.

“All of them are sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled from the party. The judgment of yesterday confirmed the reason why this suspension should be effective. In their place, especially the National Chairman, we are asking the National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman to act as National Chairman. In the place of the National Publicity Secretary, we are going to ask the Director of Publicity of our party, Chinwen Nnorom, to take over all the activities of the party in terms of information.”

According to Anyanwu, ten members of the NWC were in attendance.

Earlier, the NWC under Damagum’s leadership announced the suspension of Senator Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members.

Despite the scheduled National Elective Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, internal strife continues to grip the party.

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remain dissatisfied with the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.

Their grievances revolve around unresolved disputes concerning the South-South zonal leadership and control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States. In addition, disagreements over the micro-zoning arrangement ahead of the convention have further deepened divisions within the PDP.

These ongoing conflicts eventually escalated into a legal confrontation aimed at halting the planned convention. On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction restraining the PDP from proceeding with the convention until further notice.

In case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, the court ruled that the PDP must suspend its convention pending full compliance with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act of 2022.

The case was filed by three aggrieved PDP members Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the PDP Secretary for the South-South zone.

They argued that the planned convention violated both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal regulations, citing the PDP’s failure to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the convention notice.

Justice Omotosho upheld their arguments, ruling that the PDP had indeed breached its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines by neglecting to conduct proper state congresses and failing to provide the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC.

Consequently, the court ordered the suspension of the planned convention until all internal irregularities are corrected in accordance with the law.

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