By Jimitota Onoyume

Alhaji Musa Saidu, leader of Arewa in the south has dismissed as untrue allegation by some bloggers that northerners were not happy with the appointment of Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive officer, GCEO, of the board of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, NNPCL.

Saidu who spoke to the Vanguard on phone said the north was very impressed with the appointment, commending Tinubu for his choice to replace Malam Mele Kyari, the former GCEO of the NNPCL.

He said : ” The north is happy with the appointment of Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive officer, GCEO, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, NNPCL.

” All we want is a man that can deliver. The former GCEO, Mele kyari was there for years and he has played his own part, given his best of service to the nation as GCEO of the NNPCL.

“There is no difference between a man from Kwara state and the man from Sokoto. We are all Nigerians. Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi, the Aro of Mopa, was the best chairman of Arewa forum. He would call me sometimes to talk about Arewa. He was a great Arewa leader. He was a Yoruba northerner from kogi state. He was private secretary to the late Sir Ahmadu Bello , the Sardauna of Sokoto.

“Our bloggers should be mindful of what they write. We want a great Nigeria. Let us promote values of peace in the country. We northerners are happy with this appointment . We are happy with President Bola Tinubu .

“We should support the new team of the NNPCL. Nobody is against President Tinubu over this appointment. We in Arewa in southern Nigeria support this.

“We congratulate the new GCEO and we pray God that the confidence reposed in him, he will deliver. He should serve the nation.

” He will bring stability in all the sectors of the Petroleum industry and achieve the target of two million barrels crude oil production per day of the Federal government in the nearest future”.

Saidu who is also the National Coordinator, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, on anti pipeline, vandalism and product monitoring, assured that the body will collaborate with the new board of the NNPCL to minimize oil theft , adding that the board should work effectively with Tantita security services Nigeria limited and other key stakeholders in the fight against oil theft.

His words : “As the National Coordinator,. Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria , IPMAN, on Anti Pipeline, Vandalism and Product monitoring , we will partner with him to minimize oil theft. He should cooperate with Tantita security services Nigeria limited because they are doing a good job. He should cooperate with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector and security agencies, the military to achieve greater success in the fight against oil theft.

“Tinubu did not disappoint us. We are happy with the appointment”.