The corporate headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is set to become the centre where President Muhammadu Buhari would wield the big stick as talks of a massive purge looms over the institution.
Reports reaching papermacheonline from a reliable source has it that the GMD of NNPC, Joseph Dawha would be sacked any moment while a former Group General Manager of NAPIMS, Dr MK Baru has been penciled down as the likely successor of the outgoing GMD.
Investigation revealed that a list of Northerners that will occupy the executive position of the NNPC has been drafted and submitted to the Presidency by Dr Baru with an expectation of the President’s approval before it would be announced.
The names of those listed to take charge of the NNPC are GED Corporate Services, Alhaji Abdulrasaq, GED Finance and Accounts, Alhaji Sambo, GED Exploration Production, Alhaji Saidi Farouk, GED Commercial and Investment, Alhaji Isah Inuwa, CGM Crude Oil Marketing, Mr Matashi , MD PPMC Farouk Bello, MD NPDC, Alhaji Namtari and many others.
A look at the list however revealed that none of the top NNPC executive-in-waiting is picked from the South West region of the country.
The list also shows a highly muslim dominated NNPC top management with little regard for the nation’s Federal Character policy.
The plan to fill NNPC with an all Northerner Executive is said to have been shrouded in secrecy by the kitchen cabinet of the President who are perfecting all means to achieve an aim which negates the public’s belief of war against corruption and injustice towards the present administration.
A high ranking official of the NNPC told papermacheonline thatsensitive appointments in an organization like NNPC should not only meet the Federal Character principle of the government but must be seen to have satisfied the requirement. He warned that the present administration should be careful in their steps not to ignite crisis again in the Niger Delta region of the country.

Dr. M. K. Baru, however, attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in Kaduna State of Nigeria; where he obtained Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) with a first class honors. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical engineering.

Before his appointment as GGM-NAPIMS, Dr. Baru had worked in various capacities in both the Upstream and Downstream Sectors of NNPC. These include Group General Manager of Greenfield Refinery Projects, Managing Director of Hyson, Executive Director of Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), General Manager – Gas Division of NAPIMS, Manager – Operations, Procurement Management Services and Manager – Engineering for National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO).

During his initial stint with NAPIMS which spanned from July 1993 to July 1999, Dr. Baru executed several Gas projects which are utilizing billions of standard cubic feet of gas per day.

Several other ongoing projects were also conceptualized under his care. He planned the projects that would ensure flare-out by 2008 and made huge savings while overseeing the Joint Venture Gas Projects.

He was also the NNPC’s Chief Technical Negotiator on the West African Gas Pipeline project from July 1999 to April 2004.

Dr. Baru has been the Chairman of NNPC Anti – Corruption Committee since September 2004 till date; and has relentlessly sensitized staff on obligations and laws that govern corruption and corrupt practices.