Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke has
debunked the news found in a video report by Al Jazeera that labeled her a
thief. She said the report is mischievous, and an attempt to give a dog a bad
name in order to hang it. In her response to the report the minister stated:
"My attention has been drawn to a report by Al Jazeera,
which was released on Monday as a testament to the effectiveness of Nigeria’s
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its war against corruption.
In the video report, which has gone viral on social media,
there are claims about me owning a property in Abuja allegedly worth $18
million and jewellery worth $2 million which have been seized by EFCC.
The report, which represents everything ridiculous and
despicable about professional media practice and global best practices in the
war against corruption, is the latest attempt to give a dog a bad name in order
to hang it.
Clips of jewellery allegedly worth over $2 million were also
copiously displayed as if to feed the cravings of an audience gratified with
the notion that every wealthy Nigerian is corrupt.
This will not be the first time calculated attempts have
been made to demonise and damage my reputation in the public space. Many times,
my detractors have gotten away with these irresponsible smear campaigns because
they have become accustomed to my characteristic approach of silence in the
face of these callous attacks.
The latest in the string of propaganda attacks launched
against my person since I left government as Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister is
this Al Jazeera report, which without any court conviction anywhere in the
world attempts to dress Diezani Alison Madueke in the garb of a common
criminal.
This, to say the least, is the height of journalistic
brigandage and a sheer mockery of Nigeria’s anti-corruption war before the eyes
of the world who are watching and asking if the war against corruption is a
circus show where suspects are prosecuted and sentenced on the pages of
newspapers and video blogs without anything as remotely in the semblance of a
trial in the courts of law.
When did it become a crime to own a property in Nigeria?
When did it become a crime for a woman of my status to have in her possession,
jewellery? Jewellery, which women all across the world, including the woman
selling tomatoes in Bodija market have in abundance in their closets?
In which court of law, anywhere in the world was I
prosecuted by the EFCC and found guilty of corruption?
With all sense of modesty, I say this only for posterity and
for the records. I have strived within my means and the blessings of God to
live a decent and accomplished life.
I studied architecture in England and obtained a bachelor’s
degree from Howard University, United States of America in 1992. When I
returned to Nigeria that same year, I joined Shell Petroleum Development
Corporation.
In 2002, I obtained an MBA at Cambridge University, United
Kingdom. In April 2006, I was appointed by Shell as the company’s first female
Executive Director in Nigeria.
In July 2007, I was appointed by the late President Umaru
Musa Yar’Adua as Minister of Transport. The next year in December 2008 I became
Minister of Mines and Steel Development.
In April 2010, I was appointed as Minister for Petroleum
Resources and served in that capacity till May 2015. During this period as
Petroleum Minister, I had the honour of serving Nigeria and representing her in
the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) where I was elected first
female President.
All through my career, I have strived to maintain a record
of hard work, integrity and excellence, giving my best to society, because my
parents raised me in the consciousness that a man or woman’s greatness is
defined not by the amount of wealth they have acquired but the impact of their
service to God and humanity.
Coming at such a critical time in my life when I am battling
cancer, this poorly executed propaganda bares on its face like tribal marks, a
clearly malicious attempt to victimize an innocent woman in what appears an exaggerated
plot to validate and give credibility to the anti-corruption crusade under
Nigeria’s new regime.
People who are battling cancer or those who have lost their
loved ones to this medical condition understand what I am going through at this
time. This is what makes me ponder at the cold-heartedness of those who will go
any length to defame and destroy in the name of propaganda. What happened to
our shared humanity?
I have absolute regard for the law and believe that people
who have breached the laws that govern societies should be made to face the
wrath of the law. But in a civilized society, a responsible government owes its
citizens absolute commitment to the principles of rule of law, equity, fairness
and justice.
I have been wrongfully and maliciously maligned and those
behind this reckless action know it.
I leave them to posterity, their conscience and above all
the Almighty God who is the final judge of all".
Diezani Alison-Madueke
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