Former Nigeria Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has revealed how she stopped the former minister of finance, Ngozi Okojo-Iweala from diverting $2 billion which was part of the $5.6 Billion from the purse of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).
In the concluding part of her interview with Mr. Dele Momodu, the former minister who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer in a London hospital, recalled that on 4th of May, “Ngozi (Dr. Okonjo-Iweala) wrote to the President to release $2 billion from the money to clear her table and pay contractors, which would have depleted the money to $3.6 billion, but I said to the President (Goodluck Jonathan) we shouldn’t do that.
“I explained what the accrued money was meant for and gave a detailed background of the account. Even in the past, Ngozi and the NSA (National Security Adviser) had asked to be funded from it and I stood my ground because the money was meant for the gas project in Brass LNG in Bayelsa. Conoco Phillips pulling out affected it. We wanted to run a gas economy.”
The former petroleum minister explained that the $2 billion was part of the $5.6 Billion she left for the incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari which made it possible for him (Buhari) to pay the bail-out to state governors to settle workers’salary arrers.
“If I was corrupt, I would have spent the money on paying contractors who would have been too happy to do anything. I got calls from some of them promising kickbacks if I could pay but I refused and the rest is history.
“I actually left $5.6billion in the NLNG alone but no one is talking about it. I’m not seeking to be praised but to be acknowledged that I made some little contributions.
“That money could have been wasted on frivolities but I was determined to keep something for the incoming government once we lost the election.”
Diezani said she was not surprised about the allegations of corruption, adding that Buhari, despite his impeccable pedigree, was alleged to have had N2.8billion vanished under his nose.
“Till this day no one has been able to prove that the then Major General Buhari stole a kobo,” she said.
She said while it is true that a Minister is influential, the real power is in NNPC.
“A Minister sits in the Ministry treating files, holding meetings at home and abroad, looking glamorous and taking all the flak but people forget that the soul and heart of the nation is NNPC. The kind of due process we followed was rigorous. You know, I came from Shell, where you had to account for everything properly.”
Asked to respond to the negative perception about her, Diezani said: “I was sitting on the prime portfolio in a mono product economy. I carried out my duty in the strictest terms. I stuck to my mandate which incidentally was one which I championed with my Boss, to open up the sector to our own people as long as they can satisfy the laid down rules in the Local Content Act.
“I ensured that Nigerians would get the right of first refusal. But unfortunately I stepped on toes, very powerful toes. I was not liked by the foreigners and also some Nigerians who lost out. Hakeem Bello-Osagie once told me something I cannot forget; that 90 percent of Nigerians want to do oil business but you can only satisfy about three percent, so the rest will get angry thinking you blocked them.
“Believe it or not, and God is my witness, I didn’t have to steal. I’m not an Angel but I’m not a devil. I don’t have billions anywhere. How is it possible for one woman to steal billions of dollars in a country like Nigeria? Did I blow up the vaults of the Central Bank or transfer the money to heaven? Where can you keep such money in this age of money laundering fiasco?
“I did my job professionally without even thinking of anyone as opposition. Otherwise we would not have approved the Oando-Conoco Phillips deal. Tinubu came to see me three times and we approved on merit…”
She also spoke on accusations that she funded President Jonathan’s re-election bid: “How can I use $20 billion for elections. That is absolutely impossible. My boss will never do such a thing. Many people don’t know my boss. He is a very principled and stubborn man. There are things he will not do. And there are things I will not do. I protected the interests of my country.
“I can’t blame the doubters. They have seen more of the worst of Nigeria that it becomes difficult to trust anyone. But let me disclose something to you today because there is a difference between belief and reality. I did an unusual thing in our last days in government. I’m not sure I should tell you before people say I’m boasting.”
Diezani added that her priority now is how to take care of her poor health.
“I’m battling with a very serious type of cancer. I have tried everything to contain the malevolent spread. I have had two surgeries. The first was to take out the lumps from my breast and the second was to cut deeper into the tissues. I did the last one about three weeks ago (now about five weeks). I’m still in some pains. I’ve gone through Chemotherapy and now I’m starting Radiotherapy on Monday for five weeks (two Mondays ago).
“I’m praying this one goes well because I don’t know if there is anything the doctors can do beyond this. The steroids were devastating and at a point, I slipped into coma on July 28. My sugar level went wild first to 25 and then to 80. The doctors called it a near-miss and I now know what they mean when people say, ‘health is wealth.’
“My 14 year old son has been asking if Mummy would die. I really don’t know because I believe nothing is impossible for God. I’ve told my son that I will carry his children and grandchildren…I pray I will.
“If I were a man may be things would have been different; it would never have gone to this extent. I have never stolen from my country. I will repeat that before God and man even if no one would listen. On this job, you don’t have to steal.
“Nigerians are the most wonderful people if you are lucky to have a few good friends who believe in you. All the foreign Ambassadors say it, the reason many often come back to work and reside in our country. People can call Nigeria and Nigerians bad names but we remain the most generous and humane people on earth.
“If I have another chance, I will be more tempered on stepping on big toes but I will still do my job the best way but in a moderated way. Perhaps, I should have done things more subtly. I did what I thought was good for my country. I own no oil well. The President signed none for himself. I do not indulge in extravagant things even if people think I’m flamboyant. My only indulgence is my family and may be architecture and architectural interiors.
“God will do as He wills. He said He will bless who He wishes to bless… There is nothing anyone can do about it. So be happy about people’s good fortune. It all feels like a bad dream but God knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning,” Diezani concluded. [myad]
The former Petroleum Minister is looking for someone to drag down with her. she is already down, the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies are waiting to nail her down. So mention Okonjo Iweala in your comments are out of place. You know that Okonjo Iweala is a woman of integrity and she was open in all she did.
Diezani should stop playing on the sympathies of Nigerians. There are evidences against her corrupt practices when she was in office. I can say it was what made her lose her peace of mind before she fell ill. There is no way that she will compare herself to Okonjo Iweala. Diezani is darkness and Okonjo Iweala is light.
Diezani is an actor I don’t expect anyone, to believe anything she says. She wants o play innocent now when the cards are down. She now wants to mention the name of Okonjo Iweala so that she can appear a hero? I believe that what Okonjo Iweala suggested was right because salaries should be paid and legitimate bills owed contractors.
Even if I choose to agree with what you said. but your comment on paying legitimate bills is stupid and shows how out of touch you are with ordinary people. Diezani, you are full of crab you are the reason why people now doubt women won’t do well in public office. Everything you said is a lie
All what she said is out of place because the Buhari government is using the LNG money to do precisely what she was against. Okonjo Iweala knows better and was more transparent that is why she can walk around freely while Diezani is busy running all over the place seeking for refuge because she knows she was corrupt in all her dealings in government
Dr Okonjo-Iweala is going higher in spite of all allegations made against her. All her enemies will all perish.
Several other people who tried to rubbish Okonjo-Iweala have all failed. Madueke’s recent rantings is bound to also fail.
I disagree totally with Madueke that Dr Okonjo-Iweala attempted to divert $2 Billion NLNG Money.
The fact remains that Dr Okonjo-Iweala canno be pulled down by anyone including the former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Madueke should be further subjected to brain test to confirm if she is still mentally alert. Her allegation against Dr Okonjo-Iweala is worthless.
I don’t expect any credible statement from Madueke who herself is facing criminal charges. I know she would be doing everything to pull others into the same crisis mud she found herself.
I do not blame Madueke, we all know she is just recovering from a surgery she had gone through, and that is why she could afford to say rubbish against Dr Okonjo-Iweala.
How can Madueke raise such a bogus lie that Dr Okonjo-Iweala intended diverting $2 Billion NLNG Money. She does not know what she is talking about.
There is no such moves by Dr Okonjo-Iweala to divert any $2 Billion NLNG Money, it is a lie from the pit off hell.
Diezani Alison-Madueke is a bloody lier. She has recovered from the surgery she went through and that is why she making such stupid allegation against Dr Okonjo-Iweala.
I agree. Someone should say her comment on paying legitimate
bills is stupid and shows how out of touch with ordinary people she is. Why
shouldn’t salaries be paid and legitimate bills owed contractors? The Buhari
govt is now using the LNG money to do precisely that!! NOI
If is is by leaving peanuts you call saving some contributions, can the
$5.6billion be compared to the trillions of dollars you took off with? So yes, let God indeed be your witness, “you didn’t have to steal”, but you stole and you will get you reward in due time!
I agree with you on the fact that you are not surprised over the many
accusations thrown your way, because of a truth, you smell, look and
taste like corruption!
So, it is right to pay salaries and ignore legitimate bills owed
contractors? The issue here is, Diezani is money drunk, and so she does
not really know what to do with the money she has at hand.
If the money you claimed to leave behind was genuinely meant for the gas
project in Brass LNG in Bayelsa, why did the Buhari government use it
to settle to pay the bail-out to state governors to settle workers’
salaries arrears?
You amaze me Diezani, you should have just kept quiet rather than pull
the stunt you call reportage. A new born baby can testify to the fat
lies you revealed in this sham, rather, you have successfully exposed
your foolishness and wicked acts.
Perhaps it is the influence you enjoy from corrupt leaders like you that
has yet given you the effrontery to grant an interview and tell
horrible lies to the good people of this country; who see beyond the
letters.
Diezani, your comment on paying legitimate bills shows how stupid and
out of touch you are with the regular world. In case you do not know,
you are not doing anybody favour by squandering our oil money and
leaving coins, you were appointed to serve and protect this nation’s
interest in the oil and gas sector; not to give us fake information.