Breaking: Group Decries Politicisation of Public Servants’ Legacies

Breaking: Group Decries Politicisation of Public Servants’ Legacies

A support group under the aegis of Kyari Likeminds has expressed concern over what it described as the “growing culture of politicising the legacies of dedicated public servants,” following reports linking former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to allegations of financial impropriety.

In a statement signed by the groups Director of Publicity, Abdullahi Sabiu and made available to journalists on Wedneday evening, the group cautioned against what it called the “trial of reputations in the court of public opinion,” stressing that no amount of political maneuvering should be allowed to diminish Kyari’s record of service to the nation.

According to the group, it has become a disturbing trend in Nigeria for politicians to target technocrats and senior civil servants after their exit from office, weaponising media narratives to undermine their legacies.

“Mele Kyari gave his best years to the service of this country, steering the oil and gas sector through some of its toughest moments. His reforms, transparency drive, and push for energy security remain undeniable. To now see his name repeatedly dragged into political battles is both unfair and unfortunate,” the statement read in part.

The group also took a swipe at sections of the media, accusing them of gullibility and sensationalism. It argued that in the rush to publish breaking headlines, many outlets often lend themselves to political propaganda without waiting for facts to be tested or cases concluded in competent courts.

“Media houses must rise above being conduits of half-truths and politically motivated leaks. Responsible journalism demands context, balance, and restraint, particularly when the reputations of individuals who have served the nation at the highest levels are at stake,” the group added.

While noting that it would refrain from making comments on matters already before the courts, Kyari Likeminds maintained that the current wave of attacks fits into a larger pattern of attempts to demonise technocrats who refuse to play along with entrenched political interests.

The statement urged Nigerians to distinguish between genuine accountability processes and politically inspired campaigns of calumny, adding that posterity would ultimately judge public servants like Mele Kyari by their contributions, not by “the noise of the moment.”