By Eyo Nsima
The Chairman, International Energy Services Limited, Dr. Diran Fawibe, has described the death of the outgoing Secretary General, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, His Excellency Mohammad Barkindo as shocking.
He said the Nigerian oil and gas industry, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited, the international petroleum industry and indeed OPEC would miss him.
According to him, every Nigerian, who happen to have known the politics of the international petroleum industry and indeed OPEC, would commend him.
He also noted that despite many challenges, Dr. Barkindo was able to stabilize OPEC and protect it from international politics, particularly after the outbreak of the Ukraine and Russia war.
Specifically, in an interview with The Daily, www.thedaily-ng.com, Dr. Fawibe, a close associate of Dr. Barkindo, who condoled with the family, said: “The sudden and untimely death of the outgoing Secretary General of OPEC, His Excellency Mohammad Barkindo came to everyone as a shock. It was totally unexpected and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry, the NNPC, the International Petroleum Industry and indeed OPEC would miss this international technocrat.
“The comments and commendation of President Mohammadu Buhari captioned the essence of this industrious son that he was a worthy ambassador of Nigeria to OPEC and to the international petroleum industry. Every Nigerian, who happen to have known the politics of the international petroleum industry and indeed OPEC, would commend this astute international technocrat.
“Given the politics that surround OPEC and the international petroleum industry, he was able to stabilize OPEC and protect OPEC from international politics, particularly in recent years after the outbreak of the Ukraine and Russia war.
“The Nigerian petroleum industry and Nigeria as a country would miss this great man, especially at the time Nigeria started benefiting from the works of the reservoir of knowledge that he has gathered at OPEC we lost him.
“I condole with his family, President Muhammad Buhari, the NNPC, Nigerian petroleum industry, and indeed OPEC, where he has spent the last six years as the Head of Affairs of that organization. It should be noted that he was third OPEC Secretary from Nigeria, after the late Chief Meshack Feyide and Dr. Rilwanu Lukman. May Almighty God comfort his family and all those that he touched their lives in positive ways.”
