The real reason I was so hated – Alison-Madueke

Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, President of OPEC

The Immediate past Petroleum Minister and first female to head the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Alison-Madueke Diezani has revealed she stepped on the toes of several powerful individuals while discharging her legitimate duties as Minister.
She added that this was done because she believed she had to carry out her duties “in the strictest terms.”
When asked why she was so hated, as alleged, she stated:  “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.”

She emphasized that she was not liked by the foreigners and also some Nigerians who lost out in a bid to corruptly enrich themselves through the Local Content Act.

“Keem Belo-Osagie once told me something I cannot forget; that 90% of Nigerians want to do oil business but you can only satisfy about 3%, so the rest will get angry thinking you blocked them.”

Diezani had earlier told Nigerians that he received first hand information that the then Governor of Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi must have been angry at her  because of the way the Presidency treated him.

“Sanusi and I had been friends. There was no way I would have done anything bad to him. He even came to my house to inform me about his interest in heading the African Development Bank and we discussed for about two hours,’’ she had said.

While answering questions on whether if accorded a second chance she would make amends, she said:

“The business of oil is like a roller-coaster; it spins you around at incredible speed. Sometimes you’re too dazed to know what hit you.
“The pressure is so much from every direction. You also have to deal with a cynical society where everyone believes you are a thief based on the mere perception that there is no way you can sit on top of oil and gas without pilfering.”

Reports of her arrest in the UK recently dominated various platforms butthese tales have since been debunked with her family lawyer, Oscar Onwudiwe saying as much in a statement.

“It is worth emphasizing that Alison-Madueke was never arrested or detained and her passport was never seized. She was merely invited, and she honoured it promptly.”