Once upon a time, the name Diezani Alison Madueke was a name to be reckoned with in our
society as far as politics is concerned. It is a name synonymous with fame and wealth. She never
held any elected post but she was more popular than many state governors. She was an epitome
of beauty and intelligence. Her rising profile and connection within the corridors of power paved
way for her; she was one of the highest ranking ministers to have served 3 different presidents
back to back.
Her appointment as the minister of Petroleum under the immediate past president, Goodluck
Jonathan brought out the good, the bad and the ugly part of her. She became the first woman to
serve as the petroleum minister in the history of Nigeria. Her appointment was a morale booster
for women participation in politics. She was a god in her class; and lived a kind of life style
imagined in the Ottoman Empire; she acquired estates, lived in mansions and acquired choice
houses around the globe. She was chauffeur driven on private jets on most of her movements
within Nigeria. One of her houses confiscated in Asokoro, Abuja by EFCC was reported to have
worth $18 million with a $2 million furnishing and a gym house. She also had young men who
did the dirty job of laundering her ill-gotten wealth.
That was the story of Diezani Alison Madueke, a lady who once upon a time was fearlessly
untouchable; she wielded so many powers, even governors feared her. In one of the plenary
sittings at the beginning of the 8 th senate, Senator Akpabio once confessed at the plenary during
his reign as governor of Akwa Ibom that he was unable to see the petroleum minister after
several attempts.
She ignored panels set up to probe her over petition written against her bordering on
misappropriation of public funds, money laundry and embezzlement. She once ignored invitation
by the national Assembly over misappropriation of Sure P funds. Nobody ever dared the former
petroleum minister; she got away with every allegation leveled against her.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) had always been marred by controversies
but the coming of Alison Madueke as Petroleum minister; elevated the status of the cooperation
to full blown corruption with an official stamp.
Once upon a time, our nation has begun unearthing the people who contributed in her colossal
rape and Diezani Alison Madueke contributed immensely to our collective journey to the ugly
past.
Once upon a Diezani Alison Madueke, the once richest petroleum Minister and her surrogates
are now facing corruption charges in the United Sates, where she ran to seek refuge in the
pretense of convalescing, while back home, EFCC, through the courts, is forfeiting and
confiscating all she invested with her loot.
Once upon a nation, there was a Diezani Alison Madueke.
Joe Onwukeme
@unjoerated
[email protected]
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