'Only crooks are against PMB's decision to be Petroleum Minister' - Presidency

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu has slammed on anyone who is against the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint himself as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, calling them crooks and thieves.

Shehu was reacting to the criticism that has trailed the Presidents announcement a few weeks ago in an interview in the United Kingdom that he would be at the helms of affairs of the ministry so as to curb corruption and stealing in the oil sector, believing that for anyone to kick against the arrangement means they are not patriotic citizens.

Some industry experts had come against the idea, claiming that the position of a minister will divert Buhari’s attention from his presidential duties and make him wield too much power, but Shehu accused those he described as “briefcase-carrying crooks” as being behind the President’s criticism on the matter.

“The President has a lot of experience to bring to the oil industry. Besides the military, the oil industry is another area where he is knowledgeable.

Mr. President also has tremendous integrity which he is bringing to the sector which is the most rotten in the nation’s economy.

The criticisms are coming from deal makers and briefcase-carrying cooks because they know that Buhari is not a deal maker.

The deal makers are not ready to go down without shouting because they know that their days are over,” Shehu concluded.