Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said Tuesday night,
she was not seeking asylum in any part of the world, as claimed by her
traducers.
Madueke, who spoke through the Group Public Affairs
General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Ohi
Alegbe, denied ever contemplating relocating from Nigeria.
An online
publication reported Tuesday that the minister had been denied asylum
by six countries where she had so far applied but did not mention the
countries involved.
Earlier this evening Sahara Reporters
published a blockbuster report they got from Business Council for Africa
(BCA) claiming that Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has
been denied asylum by six countries where she had so far applied. The
report claims she's looking for a country to run to before Gen. Buhari
takes over as president because she's scared she might be probed or
jailed.
SEE SAHARA REPORTERS REPORT BELOW:
No fewer than six
countries have already refused to grant an asylum request by the
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, the
Business Council for Africa (BCA) said in its just-released monthly
report, noting that about US$ 1 trillion is the latest estimated figure
of the looting of the Nigerian treasury between 1960 and 2005 alone.
The report, dated March 2015, focused extensively on Nigeria’s general
elections. It said the notorious Minister, whose impunity is known to
have been closely-protected by President Goodluck Jonathan, will be
coming under the microscope for the first time in her Ministerial
career.
“Given her reputation, it comes as no surprise to learn that
6 countries have already refused to grant her asylum to live in their
countries as she now wishes to leave Nigeria at the earliest possible
opportunity,” it said.
BCA recalled President-elect Muhammadu Buhari
lamenting that the rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of
corruption, one where stealing is not corruption but a way of life, and
that his administration will pursue all public offices and individuals
who are believed to be guilty of corruption.
It observed that
despite an earlier promise, it is now understood that Buhari’s
anti-corruption fishing net will include Ministers currently serving
under President Goodluck Jonathan. Alison-Madueke’s departure from
Nigeria is likely to be followed by several other PDP elders, party
members and supporters as well as some former Government officials, as
Buhari's anti-corruption drive will be far-reaching.
“It will be
very interesting to learn in the coming months exactly how far back in
Nigeria's history his administration will go in the pursuance of those
who have robbed Nigeria of US$ 1 trillion, which is the latest estimated
figure of theft from the Nigerian treasury between the period
1960-2005. Given that President Jonathan's administration is considered
the most corrupt of any of its predecessors, that figure is going to be
considerably magnified, but whether the new President will wish to
pursue former Heads of State is a matter of interest and considerable
debate to Nigerian observers. It is this subject that is primarily
responsible for Buhari's success in winning the election as well as his
campaign promises to eradicate Boko Haram, revive the economy and
rebuild Nigeria to make its position as the number one country in
Africa.
While BCA agreed that the March/April 2015 were “the most
credible elections in Nigeria's history”, it said they could not be
called the most incorruptible.
On the contrary, it referred to them
as the worst because of the amount of money that the PDP so freely and
openly spent on trying to secure the re-election of Mr. Jonathan.
“The stories and reports from throughout the 36 States of the amount of
money distributed by the PDP to elders, rulers, church leaders, unions
and youth leaders amongst others in an endeavour to favour the voters
towards the PDP has backfired badly,” the report said.
BCA said
that if the 2011 elections were considered bad, the 2015 elections will
undoubtedly go down as the most corrupt in Nigeria's history, certainly
since 1999, as the amount of money being distributed as bribes primarily
by the PDP so very openly would readily confirm.
It reported that
since November when campaigning began, President Jonathan and General
Buhari during their travels made no fewer than 109 promises of what they
intend to achieve if given the mandate in the presidential election.
