Baring last minute change, President Muhammadu Buhari is set to emerge as the President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Nigeria still retains its seat as the President of OPEC despite the exit of the former Minister Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The position of OPEC President would be filled after the appointment of a new Minister of Petroleum Resources by the president, but Presidency source who spoke to Thinkers Magazine on condition of anonymity said President Buhari may not appoint any minister in the ministry like former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“It is obvious that President Buhari will be the next OPEC President because Ngeria still retains the post. Ideally, the Minister the president would send to Petroleum Resources Ministry would eventually take over as Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke’s successor.
“But, President Buhari is not ready to appoint anyone as Minister of Petroleum Resources. Mr. President wants to oversee the ministry himself. This is necessary because it will give him the ample opportunity to directly sanitize the oil and gas industry,” the source said.
It would be recalled that Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was elected president of OPEC at the 166th General Meeting of the Organisation on November 27, 2014 but started to function in the office in January 2015.
President of OPEC is expected to serve for a period of one year and to preside over the meetings of the conference during that period. The organisation has Alternate President who exercises the responsibilities of the President when the incumbent is absent or unable to carry out his or her responsibilities.
