The Confederation of All Progressives Congress Support Groups (CASG), has said the call for removal of group chief executive officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Mele Kyari, was sparked by his transparency in blocking sources of illicit wealth in the company.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, director-general of the group, Prof Muhammad Kailani, said the call for Kyari’s sack is not motivated by genuine concerns but by those whose illegal sources of wealth have been stopped by Kyari’s positive actions.

Kailani stated that those calling for his removal  are desperate to replace him with someone who will serve their personal interests, disregarding the well-being of the NNPCL and the country as a whole.

Drawing from personal experience, Kailani said, “I faced a similar situation during my time as a senior staff at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).

When I stood up against the management to do what was right, I was forced into premature retirement in 2002.”

He likened the current situation to a war, where those who have lost out are now resorting to baseless accusations and fear-mongering tactics.

“These individuals are like frightened runners who have wet their pants backstage. Now, they are singing discordant tunes from the shadows,” he remarked.

Kailani said he is confident President Bola Tinubu will discern the plot at play, stressing that he believes the president will prioritise result-oriented and productive individuals like Mele Kyari.

He further criticised the sponsored campaign against Kyari, labeling it as a group driven by hatred. “They engage in idle activities and falsely accuse Mele Kyari of sabotaging local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery,” Prof. Kailani explained.

“They are calling for the dismissal of an economic transformer, a non-tribalistic citizen, and an incorruptible individual, Mal. Mele Kyari. They need to reveal the hidden truth behind their motives. It is absurd and ridiculous,” he added.

Kailani dismissed the wild allegations made against Kyari regarding the refineries, emphasising that those making such claims lack technical knowledge of the operations. He likened their statements to the ramblings of a lunatic.

He also revealed that Kyari has been offered substantial sums of money on numerous occasions by certain individuals in the United Kingdom to reverse his reform policies, but he has consistently declined, driven by his love for his country.

“It is because of these monumental achievements that one cannot help but see the protests sponsored by so-called ‘400 Ethnic Nationalities Leaders’ as the work of troublemakers,” Kailani said.