The appointment of Mele Kyari, a former Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as the new Group Managing Director of the corporation by President Muhammadu Buhari has evoked outrage and criticisms from some Nigerian social media users.

The outraged social media users are lambasting President Buhari over the appointment due to the identical surname of the new GMD and Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

Though Buhari was constantly criticised during his first term over allegations of nepotism in his appointments, it will not be out of place to describe the current outrage as misguided and one formed out of misinformation.

The criticisms and outrage are based on assumptions that the new GMD is a relative of Abba Kyari, but a check has confirmed that they are not related.

Though Abba and Mele both hail from Borno state, Mele is of the Kanuri ethnic group, while Abba is of the Shuwa group, which confirms that they are not relatives.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Buhari removes Baru, appoints Kyari as NNPC GMD

Reacting to the debate on Twitter, some known critics of the Buhari-led administration have clarified that Mele and Abba are not related, but it seems some of the Twitter legions are not ready to listen to that.

The likes of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and other known staunch PDP supporters on Twitter have come out to clarify and educate some of the enraged social media users.

They, however, lambasted the President’s media team over their failure to properly manage information which left a vacuum for people to carry on with the wrong assumptions.

Fani-Kayode tweeted:

We must be factual in our criticism otherwise it erodes our credibility. It is NOT true to say that Mele Kyari, the new GMB of NNPC, is a relative of Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to @MBuhari. I have know Abba for 40 yrs and I assure you that Mele is not a member of his family.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) June 20, 2019

A check also revealed that Abba Kyari worked for the law firm of Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo, the law firm of Femi Fani-Kayode’s father.

A staunch supporter of the PDP and son of former Board of Trustee Chairman of the party, Ose Anenih also tweeted:

That Mele Kyari & Abba Kyari are both trending is yet another pointer to this admin’s inability to manage information.

Rightly or wrongly, Baba is viewed as nepotistic & divisive. What did you think would happen when a Kyari was announced head of @NNPCgroup?

— Ose Anenih (@Papadonkee) June 20, 2019

Buhari’s social media aide, Bashir Ahmad also tweeted to clarify:

Despite the fact that Mr. Mele Kyari the recent appointed GMD of the NNPC is from Borno State but he is NOT related to Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President as some social media users are busy sharing the fake news.

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) June 20, 2019

 

See some of the reactions:

Kyari is a very common name in Borno and Yobe state within the kanuri folks (it means old man and people named Abba Kyari are normally named after his grandfather ). So most of the Abba kyaris are not even related

— Hamma (@HAHayatu) June 20, 2019

So Buhari has Appointed Abba Kyari’s brother, Mele Kyari as NNPC GMD

Mele Kolo Kyari who hails from Borno State, North-East Nigeria is to take over from Dr. Maikanti Baru.
.
Nigeria is a comedy show. And Buhari is the performing Artist.
The joke is on Us… ?? pic.twitter.com/Ww4Xs2nyQa

— Mr_Izrael ?? (@Mr_Izrael) June 20, 2019

Mele Kyari is not related to ABBA Kyari

Sometimes read a book abeg

Plus he is over qualified for the role pic.twitter.com/c0rumneWeu

— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) June 20, 2019

Mele Kyari as GMD: Round peg in a round hole.

Before the mischief mongers start, he is not Abba Kyari’s brother.

— Mustapha Ndajiwo ACTI (@MustaphaNdajiwo) June 20, 2019

>>Abba Kyari – Chief of Staff

>>Mele Kyari – NNPC GMD

>>Ms. Aisha Abba-Kyari – Assistant Vice President, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)

Welcome to the Federal Republic of Kyari

And where are the APC Online Herdsmen?

— Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) June 20, 2019

Dear Online Herdsmen, Buhari has appointed Abba Kyari’s brother, Mele Kyari as NNPC GMD. Mele Kolo Kyari who hails from Borno State, North-East Nigeria will take over from Dr. Maikanti Baru.

They won’t consider you for anything because they see you as online thugs.???

— Debola (@dbola01) June 20, 2019

Mele Kyari is the new NNPC MD.
Mele Kyari is not related to Abba Kyari.
As if i care….. Welcome to our Second term.
Our Parosident cant be wrong. pic.twitter.com/JNmqgSCGEH

— Olabisi Faith (@igbagbofaith) June 20, 2019

Know More About Mele Kolo Kyari !!!!

* Born on 08 01 1965

* Graduated from UNIMAID (Geology)

* He is not related to Abba Kyari the CoS or to the Senator or to the popular policeman. Kyari is a common Kanuri name just like as Ayo is common in Yorubaland or as Emeka is common in

— Jubril of Sudan till 2023 (@ijaola_ibrahim) June 20, 2019

Kyari is a KANURI name, please Abba Kyari and Mele Kyari are NOT related.

Before Kyari’s appointment he was the GGM crude oil Export

Wail with facts please

— Suleiman (@DantsohoS) June 20, 2019