Otunba Segun Sowunmi, a former governorship aspirant from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, has demanded President Bola Tinubu’s impeachment, citing his management of the Petroleum Ministry and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited as grounds for the call. Sowunmi made this statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 4, 2024.
This demand follows the recent hike in fuel pump prices by the NNPC, which raised the cost from ₦600 to nearly ₦900 per litre. The increase came after weeks of fuel shortages and long queues at filling stations nationwide. Last weekend, NNPC admitted that its significant debt—over $6 billion to international oil traders—has strained its operations, contributing to the fuel scarcity. Despite earlier denials, NNPC acknowledged that these debts were a major factor behind the ongoing fuel shortages.
Sowunmi criticized the Federal Government for imposing severe hardships on Nigerians through this price hike and called for accountability from both President Tinubu, who also serves as Minister of Petroleum, and the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC, Mele Kyari. Sowunmi questioned why Kyari remains in office despite alleged corruption and mismanagement.
He argued that a serious National Assembly should have summoned President Tinubu for questioning over the NNPC’s management and the oil sector’s overall handling. Sowunmi also accused the government of potentially reintroducing subsidies in a covert manner and warned that the President’s actions could warrant impeachment.
“Appropriation is a serious issue, and abuse of responsibility and authority could lead to impeachment. The President, who is also the Minister of Petroleum, must explain why there are inconsistencies in subsidy claims and why NNPC is operating without clear authority,” Sowunmi said.
He expressed frustration over the government’s handling of fuel pricing and expenditure, suggesting that the lack of transparency and accountability in managing national resources could be grounds for impeachment.