By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

An American-based professor of Humanity and Comparative Literature at the University of Maryland, Josephine T. Abuba­kar, on Thursday took a swipe at the General Secretary and the President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for singing praises of the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery.

Prof. Josephine who is also a rights activist decried the postures of the union leaders by accusing them of being subservient to NNPCL instead of playing their roles as trade Unionists. He said the General Secretary Afolabi Olawale and the President, Williams Akporeha should have interrogated NNPCL on the allegations of converting the Port Harcourt refinery into a blending plant and also that it was planning to sell imported, substandard petrol to Nigerians as locally refined fuel.

NUPENG had on Tuesday expressed excitement over the resumption of refining of petroleum products by Port Harcourt Refinery, saying “we are reminded of the essential role this progress plays in addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges, alleviating hardship for workers and citizens, and fostering economic stability.” The oil and gas union also extended its congratulatory message to the Group CEO, Mr. Mele Kyari and the entire management of NNPCL on the “monumental achievement of successfully re-streaming the Port Harcourt Refinery after several years.”

Prof. Josephine in her statement made available to newsmen on Thursday said the NNPCL’s announcement of the refinery’s commencement of operations was a ruse designed to deceive Nigerians and industry players.

She claimed that the corporation had been shifting deadlines for the completion of the refinery’s repairs, leaving Nigerians to suffer from petrol shortages and high prices.

She further alleged that NNPCL’s plan to sell blended products will have a negative impact on engine performance and lifespan especially car owners and those who are into transportation business while also noting that Petroleum Tanker Drivers PTD) under NUPENG will be the greatest victims of blended diesel which has the potential of damaging the engines of their Petroleum trucks.

The statement said: “It is a big shame that NUPENG cannot join other well meaning Nigerians to interrogate NNPCL on the allegations of blended petroleum products which will ultimately have a negative impact on engine performance and lifespan, especially car owners and those who are into transportation business. NUPENG has literally portrayed itself as beggars before NNPCL having failed Nigerians and Union members who are paying checkoff dues. It is also correct that the Petroleum Tanker Drivers under NUPENG will be largely affected by NNPCL blended diesel and this should be of great concern.

”The last time I checked, NUPENG is the one organizing PTD, therefore the protection and the interest of PTD should be its primary objective instead of being subservient to NNPCL, dining and winning with its leadership in hotels and engaging in foreign trips while also receiving estacode allowances in dollars. The leadership of NUPENG as presently constituted has outrightly given itself out as sycophants with no integrity. The re-streaming of Port Harcourt Refinery is good for the nation, but as a responsible union, you must do your due diligence before rushing to press to sing praises as if you are NNPCL propaganda machinery. This will never happen under Frank Kokori of blessed memory, when he was the General Secretary of that Union. Men of great honour are no longer in NUPENG today, this is ridiculous and sad.

”This is the same NUPENG who took the executives of PTD, a Branch under it, to Court on trump up charges. We read how NUPENG humiliated the National Chairman of PTD, Comrade Lucky Osesua and his executives, Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Comrade (Chief) Peter Moudebelu (Onwa), Comrade Humble Obinna Power and others. Thankfully the judiciary and the Police are not biased on the matter. I am confident they will get justice and be allowed to serve the interest of their members in PTD who voted for them to run the affairs of the Branch at the National level.

“It was gathered from good and reliable authority that NNPCL has now made a bad situation worse by stage-managing a resumption of production since it has now been established that NNPCL is not trucking out Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, from its Port Harcourt Refinery. Instead, some videos of NNPCL branded trucks that were used to announce that the refinery has resumed operations and started trucking out PMS were mere movie productions to mislead Nigerians.

“NLC needs to come in and put NUPENG to check. The NUPENG leaders are nothing but a disgrace, this is not trade unionism but gangs of capitalists who are desperately looking for money and power with greed and covetousness. Anybody can insult me. I dont care. I will continue to be on the side of truth. Insults mean nothing to me. They only fuel my resolve and strengthen my determination. They are like water off a duck’s back and neither can they deter me from speaking my mind on any pressing or burning issue in the interest of PTD no matter how unpopular my position may be to them. My prayer is that Nigeria will succeed,” Prof Josephine stated.