2019: NNPC speaks on sponsoring Buhari’s re-election bid

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Friday distanced its self from claims of cash transfer to President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation.

Reports had emerged during the week that NNPC was funding Buhari’s re-election bid.

However, the Director of Strategic Communications of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo had since dismissed the reports saying he never collected any money from NNPC.

Reacting to the report, NNPC said that its Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru never transferred any money to the organisation with the sole aim of funding Buhari’s re-election bid.

In a statement signed by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu and sent to FAZENOTETV, the Corporation described the allegation as “political induced hallucination which has found accommodation in the subconscious of some mischievous political actors intent on dragging the corporation and its GMD into the arena of partisan political tussle.”

The corporation said the allegation was not only, “patently false but runs against the prevailing gale of transparency and accountability pervading the operations of the NNPC since the advent of the current administration.

‘’With no regard for the cherished investigative reporting ethos of balance and confirmation of the story, the allegation, without doubt, come across as a kindergarten execution of an ill thought political brinksmanship,’’ the corporation said.

NNPC called on “all well-meaning members of the public and oil and gas industry stakeholders to disregard the phantom report noting that the Management of the NNPC under Dr. Baru is focused on delivering the aspiration of Mr. President for the petroleum industry.”