Fresh fact have emerged that the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Andrew Yakubu, lost his plum job as a result of the alleged cold war between him and his supervising minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Although the President did not give any reason for the removal of Yakubu, sources at the Presidency and Ministry of Petroleum Resources told our correspondent that the minister actually recommended Yakubu’s removal following the controversy over the N10 billion private jet scandal.
Multiple sources told our correspondent at the weekend that Alison-Madueke had felt very uncomfortable with the way the NNPC under Yakubu handled the controversial N10 billion jet scandal and had since then resolved to streamline her official relationship with the former NNPC boss.
In fact, a source within the NNPC headquarters in Abuja had told New Mail Nigeria shortly before the sack of Yakubu was announced that the relationship between the minister the Yakubu had broken down irretrievably to the point that the minister gives direct instructions to Yakubu’s staff without his knowledge.
“I think the handwriting had been conspicuously on the wall for some time now. Our boss (Yakubu) has been schemed out. He know longer have control over policy decisions at the NNPC and in most cases, instructions are passed over his head to his subordinates,” said the source who pleaded anonymity because he was not competent to speak on the matter.
Though the NNPC had earlier denied a rift between the minister and the erstwhile GMD, very reliable sources said that Yakubu could have been removed during the heat of the jet saga but it was delayed to avoid suspicion.
NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, had earlier said Yakubu was in a harmonious working relationship with Alison-Madueke, who is also the chairman of the NNPC Board of Directors.
Dismissing reports of a frosty relationship between the duo, Alegbe had said both Yakubu and Alison-Madueke had in the last few months been working together on the various invitations by the National Assembly over the N10 billion allegedly spent by the corporation to charter private jets for the minister.
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