BREAKING:Jonathan sacks GMD NNPC ,appoints Thlama Dawha ,others in strategic move

By Danlami Nmodu
President Goodluck Jonathan has made new appointment in Nigeria’s oil corporation,the NNPC.A statement Friday named a new Group Managing director for NNPC,effectively sacking Mr Andrew Yakubu as the corporation’s boss. A statement by Presidential Spokesman,Reuben Abati Friday night evening said “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the following appointments and changes in the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC):1) Dr Joseph Thlama Dawha – Group Managing Director, NNPC;(2) Mr Anthony Ugonna Muoneke – Managing Director, NPDC;(3)Ms Aisha Mata Abdurrahman – Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, NNPC ;and (4. ) Dr Attahir B. Yusuf – Group Executive Director, Business Development, NNPC
The new Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Dawha hails from Borno state. He has served previously as the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, NNPC and Managing Director of Integrated Data Services Ltd (IDSL), a subsidiary of the NNPC.
Mr Anthony Muoneke, the new Managing Director of the NPDC, hails from Anambra state. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985, he has over 29 years’ experience at both local and international levels in the oil and gas as well as the energy and power sectors, including serving as Executive Director, Finance & Admin, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd. (NDPHC).
All the appointments are with immediate effect, the presidential statement said.
The new GMD is interesting ly from Borno State,in the embattled North east Nigeria. Borno is presently run by opposition All Progressives Congress,APC.But a major APC chieftain,Ali Modu Sheriff recently announced his defection to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.All the states under emergency rule due to Boko Haram insurgency are incidentally under the control of APC.
The latest appointment may send signals that the presidency might by getting set to fortify its war chest for the 2015 political battle for control of the north east in particular.