The Nigeria Accountability Promoters (NAP) has condemned what it described as a “sponsored, ill-motivated and baseless” protest against former NNPCL GMD Mele Kyari, accusing the convener, Kabiru Matazu, of fronting for shadowy political interests.
In a statement issued Wednesday by its Chairman, Mallam Abdullahi Sabiu, NAP described the protest as “a travesty against truth and transparency,” warning that such antics were designed to distract Nigerians from Kyari’s widely acknowledged reforms.
“Once again, we are witnessing a disingenuous display of political puppetry—this time starring one Kabiru Matazu, a name fast gaining notoriety for standing on foundations of mischief, not merit. His recent charade calling for a probe of Mallam Mele Kyari, OFR is not only baseless—it is a pathetic attempt by jobbers to rewrite the legacy of one of the most transparent eras in NNPC’s history,” Abdullahi stated.
He noted that under Kyari’s leadership, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) became a symbol of reform, publishing monthly financial and operational reports and declaring profits for the first time in over four decades—an achievement hailed across the industry.
“Let Nigerians not be deceived. These are verifiable records that even international partners acknowledged. So, the question must be asked: who is Matazu working for? Who are the sponsors of this theatre of relevance-seeking?” Abdullahi queried.
The group warned that the protest was not borne out of patriotic concern but was instead a desperate attempt to hijack the headlines in service of vested interests rattled by outgone NNPC GCEO Kyari’s bold reforms.
“This is not activism. It is pure publicity racketeering. Matazu and his sponsors should be placed under surveillance and not celebrated. Nigerians must not allow a coalition of clowns to stain the legacy of a man who dared to open the books of the NNPC at great political risk,” the statement read.
