The Christian and Muslim Youth Forum (CMYF) has expressed support for the appointment of Bayo Ojulari as the group managing director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its conveners, Ustaz Yusuf Ibrahim and Deacon Sunday Jonathan, the forum commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as a “strategic and courageous” decision.
The group said Ojulari’s appointment demonstrates the president’s commitment to restoring integrity and efficiency in the oil and gas sector, adding that it reflects a shift from past practices by prioritising competence, reform, and national interest.
“The reforms of the magnitude currently underway in the NNPCL are not just administrative; they are transformative,” the statement reads.
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“Mr. Ojulari has taken on a herculean task that demands not only technical expertise but also resilience, mental fortitude, and unwavering focus.
“The NNPCL has, for years, been seen as a symbol of missed opportunities, rent-seeking, and entrenched inefficiencies. Cleaning such a deeply entrenched system is not a walk in the park.
“It requires dismantling old networks of patronage, confronting vested interests, and disrupting long-standing habits of impunity.”
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The forum warned that those benefiting from the previous system are unlikely to step aside quietly, noting that “corruption does not retreat quietly; it fights back viciously”.
“We are aware that propaganda, sabotage, and political manipulation may be deployed to frustrate and possibly derail the reforms,” it added.
The CMYF urged Tinubu to “remain unwavering” in his support for Ojulari, saying that institutional overhauls at the NNPCL can only succeed if the GMD is protected from undue interference and backed politically to act decisively.
“As a forum of committed Christian and Muslim youths who believe in a just, prosperous, and united Nigeria, we declare our full and unflinching support for Mr. Ojulari and his ongoing reforms,” the statement reads.
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“At the same time, support does not mean blind loyalty. Our faith traditions teach us the value of accountability, and we shall not hesitate to hold Mr. Ojulari accountable should he deviate from transparency, justice, and service to the people.”
