I started noticing the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison Maduekwe when as the Minister of Works in the regime of Umaru Yar- Adua, when she cried profusely upon seeing the bad condition of the Benin-Ore road.
I was touched and stunned that a serving Minister of the Federal Republic would shed tears for the plight of the people. I quickly asked myself, has any Minister ever cried for the sufferings of Nigeria? NO. Did her cup-filled tears fixed the road? A big “no” again. So what the heck was she crying for? Of course trust the average Nigerian Politician, they sure know how to do their thing and get away with it. Oh, let me quickly go back to the subject matter and leave Madam Diezani as Works Minister and focus on her as Minister of Petroleum.
Yes, it has been in the news that she spent a staggering sum of Ten billion Naira to maintain two private jets. What does she need a private jet for, let alone two? My question was quickly answered when the NNPC spokesman said she needed a jet due to the peculiar nature of her Ministry. She would have to move round the country to ensure strict compliance to due diligence. He informed us that it is akin to Industry best practice. Isn’t that laughable? That is not the most shocking of all, what is, was when she rebuffed the House of Representative after being summoned to appear before it for questioning. Why is she shying away from the probe? Didn’t they say only the guilty fears accusation? The Minister is known for her finesse and elegance, why not go swiftly to the House in such fashion? Lest I forget, is the House of Representative not empowered constitutionally to oversight on any Ministry nay Minister? Why is her case different? Or is she a sacred cow?
She even went as far as saying the House of Representative should first sort the consent of the President before summoning her. Are you surprised? With that singular statement, she simply confirmed the age long speculation that before any Government official could be investigated, the order must come from the Presidency. Otherwise, where did she get such bravado from? She could pass as the most powerful cabinet Minister in Africa, if not the world. She has a way of exuding this arrogance of invincibility. Is she really untouchable? Or why would a Minister that is entangled in a corruption scandal speaks with so much ere of guts? When the President was asked on the Diezani saga, he simply lip-glossed over the matter.
In 2011, a Ghanaian Deputy Communication Minister, Victoria Hamman, was fired for allegedly saying on audio tape she would not quit politics until she has made 1million dollars. That is how to show zero tolerance to corruption and not this lip service that is analogous to this Administration. In this case, she intended to be corrupt, still she was booted out. Need I remind the Government, of the 4years prison term conviction of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, for financial recklessness while, he was the Mayor of Jerusalem. We all know this Government sleep, drink, eat and dance in corruption. But for a Minister to be so brazen, then something is wrong. Since the return of Democracy, she ranked as one of the perennial Ministers, but she has simply overstretched her luck this time. She is not a novice in Government and she knew the House of Representative can investigate her without the consent of the President. So where did she get that issue of summon from? What does it take to appear before the House? Well, let’s simply wait for the consent of the President before the ALMIGHTY Diezani could be summoned.
-by Clement Ogbemudia
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