Group Warns Trouble-Makers over Alison-Madueke

Group Warns Trouble-Makers over Alison-Madueke

July 5, 2011 - Oil and gas majors and interest groups within Nigeria's petroleum industry who are alleged to be uncomfortable with the return of Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Petroleum Resources Ministry, have been warned to desist from their “dirty politics” or brace to face the wrath of citizens.

Mrs. Diazeni Alison-Madueke, has also been urged to press ahead with her ministry's efforts to ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and strict adherence to the Local Content law in the country.

A group, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, made this call in a statement to AkanimoReports on Tuesday, while imploring the minister not to yield to the antics “of the so-called powerful Nigerians” who are moving against the PIB.

“We are glad to day that our daughter, Mrs. Alison-Madueke is back as Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister. This has been our prayer. We are solidly behind her, and we are urging her to go ahead and give full implementation to the Local Content policy and look into ways she can also encourage her own people from the Niger Delta”, they said.

President of the group, Nelly Emma, Secretary John Sailor, and Public Relations Officer Mukoro Stanley, said they want the minister to fire the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Austen Oniwon, if she must succeed in office.

According to them, “before she can succeed, the GMD of the NNPC must be fired; the Managing Directors of Shell and Chevron Nigeria Limited should be removed.”

Their agenda for the minister also include the revocation of all contracts already awarded to Saipem, Daewoo, Acergy and OPI, claiming that "they are the people manipulating things with those in NNPC in order to milk the nation dry and preventing our people from picking jobs in the oil and gas industry.”

“As part of their strategic to frustrate our people, SPDC, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Total E&P, Agip and ExxonMobil have packaged oil major projects in onshore and offshore, including pipelines, installation of jackets, fabrication of jackets and oil well heads from 2011 to 2016 to Saipem, Daewoo, Acergy and OPI.

“These major contracts have been packaged for these companies and this is where they are really ripping off our economy. Even the GMD of the NNPC, Austen Oniwon is aware of this game plan. We want the Petroleum Minister to act fast now by ensuring that these jobs that have been programmed for these companies from 2011 to 2016 are revoked”, they claimed.

Continuing, they said, “we are not going to take it easy with anybody again standing on the way of Mrs. Alison-Madueke. She is out to reform the oil sector and she should be allowed to do this important assignment for the nation. Those of them who have been threatening her and coming out with dirty reports against her should desist from such acts because she is doing a good job for the betterment of all.

“Leave Mrs. Alison-Madueke alone this time around. She is a square peg in a square hole. We know those behind the brazen campaign of calumny against her and we know what they are up to, but enough is enough.”

The minister had said during her screening by the Senate on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 that the strong objection to her nomination especially from the oil and gas industry she superintended over was not unconnected with the fact that she stepped on “powerful big and small toes,” while in office.

Her opposition came mostly from the oil and gas industry where major multinationals have been fingered to be leading the antagonism against her appointment over alleged introduction of certain reforms in the industry which put the oil majors at a disadvantage.

“The issue of my name having come up in the papers most recently had been one I have found extremely vicious and most unfortunate. First of all, to the best of my knowledge, this distinguished House has never indicted me for anything. If it had, I will not be standing here today. I have never carried out any project without following the due process when I was a Minister,” the minister had stated during her screening.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke had also said that; “It’s unfortunate that in a sector that carries the entire economy, when you try to implement policies and programmes, people resist them and begin to attack you.”

ENDS

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