By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

A Niger Delta activist, Comrade Karo Edor has asserted that the immediate past Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari ought to be celebrated rather than persecuted.

Edor, who stated this against the backdrop of allegations ₦210 trillion not properly accounted for between 2017 and 2023, said the Nigerian government must be grateful to Kyari, for taking the initiative to creatively solve the crude oil theft problem across the Niger Delta by engaging surveillance contractors like Tantita Security outfit which has yielded tremendous result that the current government is benefiting today.

In a chat with newsmen, Edor said, “The ₦210 trillion alleged unaccounted funds tag on Mele Kyari is another political jive to discredit a man whose sacrifices have resulted in a clean environment and increased crude oil output.

“I want to urged the national assembly to stop demarketing a man who should be celebrated and focus on the irregularities bedevilling our socio-political space, particularly the willful abuse on the rule of law by political actors.

“The Nigerian government must be grateful to Mele Kyari, who took the initiative to creatively solve the crude oil theft problem across the Niger Delta by engaging Tantita Security outfit for surveillance activities which has yielded tremendous result that the current government is enjoying today.”

He further commends the role Tantita has played in restoring the environmental ecosystem within the Niger Delta, urging the national assembly not to play politics with rewarding the contract to them owing to track record on performance.