Northern Group Urges Tinubu to Appoint Bala Wunti as NNPCL GMD
A prominent Northern advocacy group, the Northern Initiative Forum for Growth, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint Bala Maijama’a Wunti as the substantive Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The appeal was made during a press conference held in Bauchi, where the group lauded the President for fostering inclusivity and addressing regional challenges through strategic appointments.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Alkasim Nuhu Abdulkadir; National Secretary, Abdulazeez Yahaya Umar (Mandela); and Director of Planning, Research, and Strategy, Mustapha Adamu, the forum emphasized the importance of maintaining regional balance.
The group highlighted the success of past appointments, such as the selection of Yusuf Buratai as Chief of Army Staff, which bolstered the fight against insurgency in the North-East, and Mamman Saleh’s role in driving power infrastructure development.
They argued that Bala Wunti’s wealth of experience in the oil and gas sector, spanning over three decades, makes him an ideal candidate for the GMD position. The group described Wunti as a visionary leader whose appointment would align with federal character principles enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution.
“Appointing Wunti as GMD of NNPCL will showcase this administration’s dedication to regional development and inclusivity,” the statement read.
The group also referenced Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which advocates for federal character to promote national unity and loyalty.
Concluding their appeal, the forum urged President Tinubu to use his office to ensure Wunti’s appointment, stating it would solidify his administration’s legacy of equitable governance and regional development.
