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Tag: David-West

  • My grouse about PIB, by David-West

    My grouse about PIB, by David-West

    A one-time Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, yesterday described the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in its present state as a rumbling bill, which is faulty in many ways.

    He said the title of the original draft of the bill contained 40 words. “So, it can’t be a serious bill,” the former minister said.

    David-West, who is a professor of Virology, said the bill prescribes establishment of another Petroleum Training Institute in Kaduna, which, he said, would be a waste of resources, including manpower because the one in Effnrun, Delta State is successful in its role.

    Besides, the former minister said the bill gives too much power to some individuals, including the oil minister. Should the bill be passed as it is, he said foreign oil partners in joint ventures will leave Nigeria, a situation he said could collapse the industry.

    He added: “The bill is too political as it is. If it is passed like that, the industry will collapse. So, it should be looked into.”

    David-West criticised highlight of the local content inclusion in the bill, saying it is not a new initiative.

    He said: “Local content initiative has been in operation already. We did it without making noise about it when I was Oil Minister. I enforced it with the foreign companies then. I did not allow them bring any expatriate for any job for which there are skilled and qualified Nigerians. The companies signed the agreement with us and we enforced it. So, there is nothing new or great about it. The bill needs to be looked into before it is passed so that the oil industry in Nigeria will not collapse.”

  • I knew Kachikwu’s claims couldn’t be true, says David-West

    I knew Kachikwu’s claims couldn’t be true, says David-West

    A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, has described the response of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to Minister of State (Petroleum), Ibe Kachikwu’s allegation as a relief, saying it confirmed his thinking that the allegations could not have been true.

    David-West, who spoke with our reporter in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday, said he had refrained from commenting on NNPC for many years until he read the corporation’s response to the minister’s allegations.

    According to him, Kachikwu’s claims on $25 billion contracts could not have been true, given the strict rules guiding such at the NNPC.

    He said: “On reading Kachikwu’s letter, I was flabbergasted that something like that could ever happen. If it is the NNPC that I know, I can’t believe that all those things could have happened. The rules of lifting oil are so strict that when I read his letter, I could not believe my eyes.

    “To lift oil within Nigeria, you must be a corporate organisation or a country. If it is a corporate organisation, you must have a minimum of 20 staff and have a refinery. If it is a country, it must also have a refinery. The organisation must also submit audited financial report of three consecutive years and deposit a non-refundable fund of $1.5 million. This sum was originally levied in Naira but we changed it in 1984 when exchange rate was $1.5 to N1. But now, it has been reduced and this has brought more organisations into the business. In fact, about 40 organisations now lift Nigerian oil as if they are buying palm oil.

    “With those strict conditions, it baffled me to read what Kachikwu wrote.

    “Again, oil contracts are not discussed at either NNPC board meetings or Federal Executive Council meetings to avoid slowing down decision-making process. The corporation has its own tenders board though the basic rules have been updated over time. I was surprised that Kachikwu’s letter was also leaked to the press because it was an embarrassment to the President. Definitely, something fundamental is wrong somewhere. The letter could not have been leaked by the Presidency because it was an embarrassment to the President. It could also not have been leaked by Maikanti Baru because it would have been an indictment on him.

    “So, I was relieved on reading NNPC’s response. It confirmed that things have not gone so bad as Kachikwu portrayed it in his letter. As a matter of fact, if the content of the letter were true, it would scare players in the oil industry away from Nigeria.

    “Some people also said that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would have prevented that kind of situation if it had been passed. That is not correct. The PIB is not the solution to the problem in the Nigerian oil industry. In fact, if passed the way it is, it can destroy the industry. I have read it. It is not a serious bill. It has only 40 words. If they don’t look at it carefully before passing it, it can destroy the industry.”

     

  • Buhari hails Mbang, David-West at 80

    Buhari hails Mbang, David-West at 80

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the Christian community in celebrating the 80th birthday of Prelate Emeritus, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Sunday Coffie Mbang.

    The President congratulated Mbang and his family, as he clocks the milestone age in good health and a rich legacy of a life lived in the service of God, his nation and humanity.

    As a former Prelate of the Methodist Church and president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the President believed the legacy of the former prelate of always working towards reconciliation, reconstruction and revival in leadership positions, aptly captures the central message of the Bible, which is love.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President assured the former prelate that his efforts in pursuing unity in the body of Christ and the country will always be remembered by posterity, especially in co-chairing Nigeria’s Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), a government body promoting inter-faith dialogue.

    He praised the courage of Mbang in his outspokeness against tyranny, corruption and social ills, such as immorality, cultism and drug abuse.

    The President prayed that God will grant Mbang good health and more years of service to his fatherland.

        Also, President Buhari hailed eminent academic and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tamunoemi Sokari David-West, who turned 80 today.

    President Buhari recalled, in a statement by Adesina, his long-term relationship with the elder statesman, in 1984-1985.

    He praised Prof. David-West’s steadfastness and forthrightness on issues of good governance, democracy, human rights and the unity of Nigeria, especially when some seem to easily give up on the project of building one great nation.

    The President assured the octogenarian that his place in Nigeria’s history is guaranteed for the statesmanship, fearlessness, intellectual depth, resourcefulness and versatility he brought into public discourse.

  • David-West hails APC’s campaign

    David-West hails APC’s campaign

    FORMER Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, believes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “is in trouble” given the huge success of the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital last Tuesday.

    David-West said the PDP underestimated the APC by believing that it would break up due to personal ambitions of its leaders.

    He added that the “PDP’s woes” were compounded by lack of good advisers and strategies as well as over-reliance on the power of money.

    The former minister explained that the crowd that attended the Port-Harcourt campaign, in a state bordering Jonathan’s state, and in a state capital, where Dame Patience Jonathan hails from, confirmed how unpopular Jonathan and the PDP have become.

    David-West added that the zeal for change among Nigerians was becoming widespread, stressing that the APC would win next month’s election.

    He said: “PDP is in great trouble because the party’s leaders never expected the great support for the APC and Buhari. Dr. Doyin Okupe had insisted that APC would break up, but this huge success is what is starring them in the face now.

    “They also do not have good advisers and neither do they have good strategies as politicians. They do not do research before they talk. They lie a lot, destroying themselves before Nigerians.

    “They are also in big trouble because they rely so much on money which they have a lot. But Nigerians are looking for those who can bring positive changes to the country. APC will win in grand style. The more PDP pulls it back, the more it shoots itself in the foot.”

  • David-West: OPEC Presidency not for minister

    David-West: OPEC Presidency not for minister

    A former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, has disclosed that the position of the president of the OrganiSation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is not for the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, but Nigeria as a member.

    He stated this while speaking to The Nation in Ibadan yesterday.

    The former minister said he was taken aback by the misunderstanding of the emergence of Allison-Madueke as OPEC President, saying it is shameful that most Nigerians do not know the organisation’s mode of operation.

    According to him, OPEC presidents are never elected but selected by members, adding that the tenure is only for a meeting except the current president is given another term.

    His words: “I congratulate Nigeria and the Petroleum Minister in that order for the OPEC presidency. However, I want to make the following corrections:

    “First, OPEC presidents are are never elected but selected. There has never been a contest. Immediately they agree, the first item on the agenda is always selection of the president. It is by selection and consensus but never by election.

    “It is also for the country, not for the minister. For example, Rilwan Lukman became OPEC President the very first meeting he attended because they had agreed at the last meeting (during my tenure as minister) that Nigeria would be president. I actually received a hand-written note from the then Saudi Oil Minister, Sheik Zaki Yamani, to that effect.

    “Again, the tenure of the OPEC presidency is for that meeting alone. But if she wants, she can be renominated and endorsed.”

  • David-West to Jonathan:Sanusi’s removal a political suicide

    David-West to Jonathan:Sanusi’s removal a political suicide

    A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, has described the suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday as “a political suicide and a great miscalculation.”

    David-West, who spoke to our correspondent hours after Sanusi was removed yesterday, emphasised that the CBN governor has done so much for Nigeria to the extent that he deserved a national honour, not national humiliation. “The suspension of the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is one of the worst political mistakes President Goodluck Jonathan has made. It was a great miscalculation. It is like a political suicide because his tenure ends in May which is around the corner. He should have allowed him to complete his tenure.

    “When the Central Bank Governor of a country is humiliated like this, it usually has negative impact on the currency of the country in the global monetary market. It reflects the instability of the government. It also impacts negatively on the economy.

    “On the political scene, Sanusi is not a small fry. He has a very powerful political base in the country. Sanusi is loved and admired by many people across Nigeria. Sanusi has made Nigeria proud. He has been decorated over 10 times as one of the best Central Bank Governors in the world. Nigeria should commend him instead of humiliating him. This won’t do President Jonathan any good. It amounts to political suicide for him.

    “Sanusi has been a whistle-blower. Without Sanusi, Nigerians would not have known that the NNPC was not remitting billions of Dollars to the Federation Account. The actual amount is immaterial. Between $10 and $20 billion is said to yet to be accounted for up till now. He deserves national honour, not national humiliation. This won’t be in Jonathan’s interest with respect to the 2015 election.”

    David-West said Sanusi’s removal reminded him of the removal of former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami. “It reminds me of the case of Justice Isa Salami of the Court of Appeal who was removed because it was suspected that he would give the right judgment whenever Gen. Mohammadu Buhari approached the appellate court in petition over presidential election. Salami is one of the greatest upright judges in the country.”

    The former minister also said that people will suspect that Sanusi’s removal was to make things easier for ministers of petroleum and finance in the ongoing controversy over Federation Account.

  • David-West to Jonathan: hands off Soku oil wells

    David-West to Jonathan: hands off Soku oil wells

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Professor Tam David-West yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to leave the controversial Soku oil wells in Rivers State.

    Rivers and Bayelsa,home state of President Jonathan ,are currently locked in a stand off over the ownership of the oil wells after Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers accused the President of short-changing Rivers in transferring ownership to Bayelsa.

     Professor David-West,leading a delegation  of Kings,Chiefs and other representatives  of   Akuru-Toru Local Government area of the state during a solidarity visit to the Governor,said that the Kalabari of which Soku is part  are prepared to resist the alleged cheating.

    He said that the  Kula, Soku, Idama, Elem-Sangama and Abisse  communities   having been part of Kalabari history  for over 300 years of are not prepared  to lose Soku or any other area to another part of Nigeria.

     David-West told Amaechi:”why should an Ikwerre Governor be sacrificed, for saying that don’t take away Kalabari Communities from Rivers to Bayelsa State? Kalabari people need to go round such person and carry him high.”

    Deploring alleged attempts by some Kalabari chiefs  to sign a secret document to cede the River’s Oceania Communities to Bayelsa state as a ploy to distort facts ,David-West said:

     ”Truth, only has one version.

    “All the time they are shifting the boundaries to their favour with some Kalabari Chiefs, who were secretly approached to sign documents to cede all these territories to Bayelsa state. But, they cannot change the fact that the controversial oil well territories belong to the Kalabari people.

    “This is because, if you plan evil or attempt to ruin the Kalabari land of its natural resources, the gods, our ancestors will not allow you. Bayelsa state was created in 1996, and the boundary was created between us at the Santa Barbara River.

    “It has now been moved to the San Bartholomew River. If they allow that, then, Abonnema and Idama will be in Bayelsa state. This is what is coming and I tell you stop it now, because God will not allow it to happen.

    “ We must go back to the colonial boundary which was impartial. If you rig election to be in office, tomorrow, you may not be there, but these records will be there forever. And, it is left to us Kalabari sons and daughters to support all those fighting for our cause and fight with all that we have to stop this nonsense.

    “It is nonsense and I owe no apology for it because it is nonsense.”

    He added: “Let me say categorically that, I have nothing against President Jonathan, but I hate the style of  his leadership and I have no apologies for it. Let me say also that, I will not support somebody who wants a political office because he is an Ijaw man, but will only support such person, only when that person is good.

    “I am not against him, but I am particularly against everything about his government and leadership, especially, his style of divide and rule system. He will not succeed. I have told his brother who is a fantastic engineer to tell President Jonathan that, I will not pull him down, but if I see people pulling him down, I will not stop them, because, he is not doing well.”

    Replying,Gov. Amaechi assured the people of the Oceania communities that his administration will work towards the completion of all ongoing projects as a means of showing government presence in the area.

    He also  urged the people to vote out PDP in 2015 to get back their oil wells from Bayelsa State.

  • David-West hails CBN governor over refusal to resign

    David-West hails CBN governor over refusal to resign

    A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, has thrown his weight behind the refusal of the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to resign from office. David-West, who hailed Sanusi’s decision while speaking with The Nation on telephone yesterday, said he supports him “completely” on his decision to stay till the end of his tenure in June. The embattled CBN boss had insisted he would not resign in spite of the alleged directive from the Presidency to do so. He has been embroiled in a controversy over his claim of some alleged unremitted revenue totalling $49.8 billion by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Rather than force the CBN boss to resign, David-West said the Presidency should apologize to him for embarrassing him because it was his revelation that eventually made Nigerians know that up to $12 billion is still missing going by the last audit of Sanusi’s claims by all relevant government agencies. He said: “I read with great elation Sanusi’s refusal to resign on the front page of The Nation yesterday. I support him completely. Sanusi must not resign for the sake of the country and for his own good name. I have interacted with four CBN governors, including Sanusi and I make bold to say that he is one of the best. This is vindicated by his many international awards which are a credit to Nigeria. “Why the President wants him to resign is because of the controversial $49.8 billion which he said was not remitted to the federation account. It is a stupid reason to give. The Presidency should be ashamed. Sanusi did not lie. Granted that after all the different government agencies tried to reconcile the figure, it was still said that $12 billion is still missing. He has done a lot of good job for the country. “Sanusi must not resign. The nation should commend him, and the President should apologize for embarrassing him. Without him, we would not have known that $12 billion is missing. He has done no wrong.‘’

  • David-West to Jonathan: Call police to order over G-7 governors

    David-West to Jonathan: Call police to order over G-7 governors

    A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call police to order on their alleged unconstitutional acts.

    David-West was reacting to the news of how police allegedly aborted a planned meeting of seven governors opposed to Jonathan in Abuja Sunday evening.

    The governors belong to a new faction within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They are Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).

    The meeting was slated for Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja but they were forced to relocate to another location for the meeting.

    David-West decried the act and described it as “unconstitutional and illegal.”

    He stated that the act was against the constitution that guarantees freedom of association and assembly for all Nigerians.

    He said: “Police have no right whatsoever to stop the G-7 meeting. Their action is unconstitutional and illegal and should be condemned by all peace-loving Nigerians. Section 40 of the Constitution of Nigeria guarantees all Nigerians freedom of association and assembly.

    Section 41 guarantees right to freedom of movement and these are under fundamental rights and guiding principles of the constitution of Nigeria. So what the police have done is not only against the constitution but should be condemned.”

    The former minister urged Jonathan to call the police to order, stressing that his failure to do so amounts to giving “tacit support” to the illegalities which, he said, is contrary to his oath to protect the constitution of the country.

    “President Jonathan should condemn the police for their unconstitutional and illegal act against the G-7 governors meeting. If he fails to do so, it means he also tacitly supported the unconstitutional act.

    “I will remind Mr. President that he swore to protect the constitution of Nigeria. So if he gives tacit support to the police in preventing Nigerians from enjoying their constitutional rights, he should resign because that is what he swore to protect,” David-West said.

     

  • David-West to Jonathan, NASS: You can’t amend the constitution

    David-West to Jonathan, NASS: You can’t amend the constitution

    A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, has faulted plans by President Goodluck Jonathan to send recommendations of the proposed national conference to the National Assembly, saying they lack the power to amend the constitution.

    David-West, who spoke to our correspondent in Ibadan on Wednesday, said both the President and the lawmakers seem not to understand the constitution they are using for governance.

    He said Section 9 of the 1999 constitution is clear on the procedure involved in the amendment of the constitution, adding this is contrary to the current amendment plans.

    He described their efforts as a mere “waste of time.”

    David-West said, “I am concerned and very much worried for some time now over how the amendment of the constitution is being discussed by the National Assembly. I was one of the few people that drafted the 1979 constitution and it is almost the same thing as the 1999 constitution. It is clear to me that neither the National Assembly nor the President had any power to alter or add one word to the constitution. I am surprised that they have not been called to order by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) or any of the numerous legal luminaries in the country.

    “I am saying this because Section 9 of the constitution clearly provides for how the constitution can be altered or changed. All what they have done so far are completely at variance with what is provided for in the constitution. It is an exercise in futility!”