House of Representatives Members Rally Support for Nigeria’s Oil Sector Chiefs, Appeal for Calm Amid Ongoing Protests

A group of 50 members of the Nigerian House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari, and the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed. The lawmakers have also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and end the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.

The members of the House of Representatives, led by Billy Osawaru, faulted calls for the removal of Kyari and Farouk, describing the move as premature. Osawaru emphasized that it is against parliamentary culture to call for the sack of an official of government when an investigation involving such a person has not been concluded.

According to Osawaru, it is in the parliamentary culture to afford parties in an investigation the right to a fair hearing. He called on the committee handling the probe to be impartial and ensure that all parties are given a fair chance to present their cases.

The lawmakers also expressed concern about the ongoing protests in the country, saying they converged to further appraise the situation as it affects the well-being of Nigerians. They appealed for calm and begged all Nigerians to bring the protests to an end.

In a statement, the lawmakers commended the efforts of the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Right Honorable Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, for convening the youth dialogue to douse the tensions surrounding the scheduled protests. They also praised the youths and Nigerians in general for the manner they have conducted themselves during the protests.

The lawmakers urged Nigerians to remain patient and law-abiding in expectation of a better Nigeria. They emphasized that the ongoing protests would not achieve the desired results if not conducted peacefully and responsibly.

The statement from the lawmakers comes amid rising tensions in the country over the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, which have seen Nigerians take to the streets to demand better governance and an end to corruption.