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By Madu Obi
Cold war is brewing in the Anambra State Ministry of Petroleum Resources following the appointment of Professor Charles Ofoegbu as the chairman of the state's Oil and Gas Ltd by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Although the appointment was said to aim at positioning the state to play active role in the solid minerals and hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, some people were said to be scared of the appointment.
Two companies, Incorporated Oil and Gas, and Solid Minerals companies were floated by the state government in 2021 and 2023 and until the recent appointment, there were no Chief Executive Officers and Board Chairman for the companies.
A source in the Ministry said although there is no doubt that the appointment of Prof Ofoegbu was apt and proper for the solid minerals sector, it would have been proper to have appointed all the executives for the two companies in one fell swoop.
The source said: "It is even more confounding that the same Prof Ofoegbu was also appointed chairman of the Oil and Gas company. This is rather an ambush for whoever is the Commissioner for the two companies that are supervised by the same Ministry."
"As it stands, there is a cold war orchestrated by scheming from the office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, to foist an old ally and colleague, who is well above 70 years and have seen his active years in service."
According to the source, there are also grievances from the oil producing areas of Ogbaru (Ogwuikpele and Ogwuaniocha), which feel that their own should be appointed in the interest of local content and inclusivity.
He also said that concerned stakeholders in the state are worried that such perceived injustice and lack of inclusion may culminate in mistrust and agitations.
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