
Senator Ifeanyi Ararume
NNPC Ltd Board: Buhari drops Araraume, as political infighting in Imo APC takes deeper twist

Political infighting in Imo State Chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may have cost former senator Ifeanyi Ararume his shortlived tenure at the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

As the fight between the camps of former governor Rochas Okorocha and incumbent Hope Uzodinma in Imo State deepened, many are of the opinion that the latter has never been comfortable with the initial appointment of Araraume into the NNPC Ltd Board as Chairman, as it is seen as arming the enemy.

It would be re called that President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, ended the barely four months life of Araraume as the Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board with the appointment of Mrs Margret Chuba Okadigbo as the new Chairman of the reconstituted Board.
Special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, made the announcement, in a statement, Wednesday.
Ararume who represented the South East zone in the Board was effectively replaced by Mrs Margret Chuba Okadigbo, also from the region, after his initial appointment to the Board last September as
Chairman of the NNPC Limited.
It would also be recalled that the planned official of inauguration of that board scheduled for November 2021 was suspended.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed the board and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, in accordance with the power vested in him under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
“Chairman of the Board is Senator Margret Chuba Okadigbo (South East), Mele Kolo Kyari, Chief Executive Officer, and Umar I. Ajiya, Chief Financial Officer.
“Other Board Members are; Tajudeen Umar (North-East), Mrs Lami O. Ahmed (North-Central), Mallam Mohammed Lawal (North-West), Engr. Henry Obih (South East), Barrister Constance Harry Marshal (South-South), and Chief Pius Akinyelure(South West).
“The appointments take effect from the date of the incorporation of the NNPC Limited,” Adesina’s statement read.
Okorocha and Araraume are said to belong to the same camp which is opposed to the incumbent Governor’s circle, and which has been at loggerheads with Governor Uzodinma.
It is also believed that the political drama culminated in the Gestapo-style abduction of Okorocha’s son-in-law, Prince Uche Nwosu, penultimate Sunday, by police operatives from the state Command during a church service over allegations of sponsoring insecurity.
Okorocha presently a senator representing Imo West at the National Assembly has also responded with his own accusations and tirade aimed at the state governor, as he has also accused him of being behind insecurity in the state, aside labeling him as ascending to the Government House through the backdoor.
Though, it is said that Ozodinma enjoys massive support from Abuja, the appointment of Araraume to the NNPC Ltd Board came to him as a shock, which he was bent on correcting.