Tinubu told to separate presidency from petroleum ministry

The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has asked President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the practice of serving as both President and Minister of Petroleum.

MOSIEND President, Dr. Kennedy West, made the statement in Port Harcourt during the 58th Isaac Boro Day celebration. He said good governance works better when there is accountability, specialization, and proper oversight in government institutions.

West argued that if the President believes direct supervision of the petroleum sector is necessary, then the same approach should also apply to other important sectors like defence and solid minerals. According to him, Nigerians deserve transparency, consistency, and better performance in all key sectors of the economy.

He said: “We respectfully call on Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the practice of the President serving as substantive Minister of Petroleum. Effective governance depends on accountability, specialization, and transparent oversight.”

The group also used the occasion to honour the late Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, describing him as a strong voice for justice and fairness in the Niger Delta. West said Boro’s struggle was not only for the Ijaw people but for all minority groups in the region who faced neglect and unfair treatment.

According to MOSIEND, Boro Day should not be seen as an event for only Ijaw youths because his message was about freedom, dignity, and equal treatment for all people of the Niger Delta.

West added that many of the issues Boro complained about decades ago still exist today, including environmental damage, poor resource control, political marginalization, and policies seen as unfair to oil-producing communities.