Diezani lobbies Tukur in US over cabinet reshuffle
May 5, 2012 by Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja 11 Comments
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has met with the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, in Houston, US, to solicit help in her bid to retain her cabinet job.

They met on May 1 after the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Pavilion at the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference 2012 in Houston.

An investigation by our correspondent showed that the minister facilitated the travelling of the party chairman for the trip, with the aim of using it to enlist Tukur’s support in the bid to retain her job, since President Goodluck Jonathan is said to be contemplating dropping some ministers.

A source, who was privy to the meeting, said the minister was afraid that the President could yield to calls from different quarters for her removal. The calls for the minister’s removal became strident since the conclusion of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Management.

“The minister knows that she is no longer popular among Nigerians, especially among the civil society groups, human rights activists and some lawmakers, who are demanding her removal from office,” the official said on Friday, seeking not to be named because he was not authorised to speak.

“She has lobbied several people in the country, but decided to lobby the national chairman of the PDP, whom she brought to Houston for the Offshore Technology Conference.”

It was, however, not clear whether Tukur agreed to speak with the President on her behalf or not.

A coalition of civil society groups had also called for Alison-Madueke’s removal on account of her indictment by the Farouk Lawan-led subsidy probe committee.

The groups include the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, and Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.

They also backed the call for the prosecution of all the senior government officials and marketers indicted by the committee’s report.

The civil society groups, which kicked against an alleged move to kill the House report, urged the lawmakers to further investigate whether serious constitutional breaches had occurred that would warrant a necessary legislative action or sanction against those indicted.

“The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke should be immediately sacked and investigated with a view to possibly prosecuting her for serious corruption or complicity therein,” the PLAC coordinator, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, told a news conference in Abuja.

“In addition, all other public and civil servants, who participated in the subsidy scam, whether by connivance or negligence in the ministries of finance and petroleum, the Accountant General’s office, etc, should also be sanctioned and brought to account.”

At the briefing were Mkpume Daniel, Danda Garuba, Dan Nengel, Eze Onyekpse, Collins Okeke and Emmanuel Onwubiko.

Apart from this, a group of members of the House of Representatives had also called on the President to relieve the minister of ministerial job.


http://www.punchng.com/news/diezani-lobbies-tukur-in-us-over-cabinet-reshuffle/

If this woman gets back in, well ℓ̊ don't really have nothing τ̅☺ say.

blink182: If this woman gets back in, well ℓ̊ don't really have nothing τ̅☺ say.

I wouldnt be surprised. I learnt she uses both 'bottom power' and stolen funds to solidify her seat. She is so desperate to continue looting national funds. Utterly corrupt

Mr. Globe:

I wouldnt be surprised. I learnt she uses both 'bottom power' and stolen funds to solidify her seat. She is so desperate to continue looting national funds. Utterly corrupt

Who wouldn't want τ̅☺ have a share of her cream pie, even crippled Tukur will enjoy reverse cow girl.

From lobbying Henry okay to bamanga tukur. Na wa o for dis woman and position.

haka_nai: From lobbying Henry okay to bamanga tukur. Na wa o for dis woman and position.

If na you nko? I'm not sure Ÿ̲̣̣̣̥ø̲̣̣̥u̶̲̥̅̊ understand the office this woman occupies. If she doesn't even steal, monthly kick backs and gifts will exceed N1bn monthly. Add blatant stealing and she should be ☺ƞ Forbes if not for Τ̲̅ђε̲̣̣̣̥ fact she can't declare her wealth.