I could not believe that the former Nigeria's Minister for Petroleum Prof Mrs. Deziani Allison Madueke has been arrested and would soon face trial in a London court. This is very heartbroking to me and I will tell you why. Mrs. Deziani served as the Nigeria's petroleum minister under the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, a tenure which expired on May 29, 2015.
Although I have never met her in person, informal public view on Mrs. Deziani Madueke held her as one of the women of strength and substance to reckon with in the Nigeria's political, economic and academic sphere. It was alledged that during her time as the petroleum minister, she was feared and respected among and beyond the entire Nigeria's political landscape. A lot of reforms in the oil sector were made under her regime. I perceived her as a woman who had the capabilities to drive Nigeria's petroleum mandate to the desired promise land.
What could have gone wrong? I am heartbroken to say the least. In the Nigerian Igbo parlance, we would say - "a mighty Iroko has fallen". Could she really be found wanting? Was she arrested merely based on allegations of huge financial misappropriation as claimed by some authentic sources? God knows that I am a fore-front apostle of President Buhari's anti-corruption and anti-insecurity agenda but I must admit that the news of Deziani's arrest and trial came as a deep shock to me. I feel heartbroken.
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| Deziani Madueke |
Nigeria is currently battling to give women more conspicuous representation in the scheme of things in the country. It would be regrettably counter-productive for the few Nigerian women who managed to scale the board, to soil their hands in corrupt practices. Personally, I do not believe that Nigerian women are failing in their national duties when given the chance. I strongly suspect that those who throw in the towel to corruption must have been overwhelmed by the entirety of a system that has been riddled with corruption. Little wonder some Nigerians would say, "if you cannot beat them, join them".
If I were God, I would purge her of all alledged wrong-doings and still continue to retain her in the decision-making platforms of national polity. Deziani Allison Madueke, judging by her fearlessness, intellect and global experience is one such thick women that Nigeria needs, especially as Nigerian women need trail-blazers in their quest for national emancipation. I pray she comes out unruffled, but most importantly, truly repentant if ever she had done any of the crimes alledged. We still need her good sides, Nigerian women still has more to learn from her experience, Nigeria still needs her.
But let this serve as a warning to all public office holders! It is no longer business as usual. The current system under President Muhhamadu Buhari has largely revived the checks and balances to ensure that no public office holder does wrong and goes scot-free. Let our women not be discouraged. They must continue to strive for more recognition in the socio-economic and political scheme of things. #BringbackourDeziani
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