Unvarnished Truths from Yenagoa: My Morning with Heineken Lokpobiri By Thomas Peretu
It was quite refreshing, if not enthralling, to encounter a high-profile public official who speaks gracefully with absolute candour and openness rather than being guided by safe, scripted talking points. This is a rare experience in Nigeria's public life. Too often, media interactions with senior government figures dissolve into predictable exchanges—defensive answers, subterfuge, rehearsed generalities, and an eager rush to escape uncomfortable questions.
On October 2nd, I found myself sitting among a select group of media professionals in Yenagoa for a breakfast parlay with Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (PhD), Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil). The atmosphere was convivial and friendly, suitable for a heart-to-heart conversation. The event was curated, as it were, by one...