Petroleum Minister Shuns Directive, Travels To Vienna

RILWANU LUKMAN. Photo: AP.

Abuja (THEWILL) - The directive from Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to the minister of petroleum, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman to shelve all travel plans for the Christmas and New Year until the persistent fuel crisis is resolved has not deterred the minister from traveling to Vienna, Austria for the holiday.

Vice President Jonathan had on Wednesday instructed Lukman, minister of state for petroleum resources, Odein Ajumogobia, the minister of state for finance, Remi Babalola and the minister of power, Rilwan Babalola to cancel any travel plans for the holiday to enable them find a solution to the lingering fuel crisis rocking the entire country.

A Presidency source said the minister left for Vienna on a British Airways flight from Abuja on Thursday morning. The minister was said to have told some petroleum ministry officials that nothing was going to stop him from taking his vacation.

With this development, Dr. Lukman will not be at the meetings with the Vice President scheduled for next week.

The source said, Lukman may not return until the first week of January 2010 adding that,“The minister’s action is a clear demonstration of the way they look down on Nigerian people. How then can one justify why a serving minister who is supposed to be responsible to the Nigerian people decide to abandon his mandate and go for personal pleasure? It is a clear demonstration of the lack of respect for the office of the vice president. It is very unfortunate, It is indeed sad.”

Meanwhile petrol continues to sell for between N100 and N120 per litre at petrol stations where it is available.