In this interview with journalists in Abuja, renown businessman with interest in oil and gas, Alhaji Ibrahim Saleh, takes strong exception to criticisms trailing the petroleum minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke over the huge sum spent on air transport. SAMUEL OGIDAN reports
Probe of petroleum minister
Well, I have been following the development and I must say I am disappointed with the way the House has carried out its functions as regards this probe. I know the legislature has oversight functions on the executive which have been carried out at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources since 1999, without much noise and harassment. Why things are degenerating now at the time we are supposed to be building on the progress, we have made since 1999 is what I do not understand. Somehow, the House may be abusing its powers and functions with the way it has been fighting the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison- Madueke. Someone who is not abreast of issues may think that the House has special interest in her office, or that some people are using the House to push for certain things in her office. And sincerely speaking, most people out there will now believe that the House is being used against the woman
I read where it was written that the House, through several different committees, has forced the woman to appear before them over 100 times. If that is true, what comes to mind will be to ask if she was appointed to always appear before the House? For the businessman, it means a lot. When do you expect her to attend to other matters of state? I think the House should step back a little and allow common sense in this matter instead of pursuing her like she ate their meat pie.
Issues raised over N10billion spent on air transport
My understanding of what the law says here is that the House “may cause to be investigated”. In my understanding, the language employed by the constitution in describing the powers of the House to initiate investigation is not the same as saying that the House must investigate. In that case, one would expect that having alleged an offence against the minister or even discovered an infraction of the laws and procedures, or even fraud against the minister or any other person for that matter, the House should raise a petition to the agencies of government legally empowered to investigate and prosecute.
The House lacks powers to prosecute and I think that is why outcomes of their investigations have always ended with them. I think the best they can do is to petition EFCC and ICPC, which would investigate and prosecute if they found any substance in their allegations, otherwise, they would be seen as using their privileges to harass and embarrass the minister and that will not yield any result. Of course the House can ask for documents and necessary information on any issue it is interested in. but having done that, what next would it do with them? How many public officers have the House embarrassed since 1999 with such spurious investigations and probe? How many have been prosecuted and penalized? The reason is because the outcome of their investigations cannot stand the test of the law in a law court. So, of what benefit is an investigation that comes to nothing but just to embarrass and shame? Is that what will develop Nigeria?
Are you saying the issue is not serious enough?
Have you been shown any document where she expressly signed out the cost of the trip? In fact, if the House of Representatives has any issue, it should be with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and not with Mrs. Allison Madueke. But the way they are pursuing it is witch-hunt, it also shows special interest. If you tell me that the minister cornered oil money and paid it into her private accounts, that is different issue. But in this case, it is the ministry that fixes all her trips and makes arrangements for them. I am glad that even in the Mrs. Allison-Madueke issue; no one has said the trips she embarked upon were frivolous. Honestly, at times, you can’t but imagine what we do with politics here. Politics should be for development and not for destruction. I once read in some newspapers that outrage about the amount budgeted by Nigeria to buy a new airplane for the presidential fleet. A lot of people were abusing the president for that. But the same newspapers reported again that the president’s aircraft developed faults somewhere and delayed his movement. The newspapers were making a mockery of that, but they were the ones who were writing against buying a new airplane for the Presidential fleet. And they forgot to realize that the plane does not belong to Dr Goodluck Jonathan. I think we should begin to tell ourselves some truths and stop this negative politics.
Coming back to your question, the amount of money the trips have gulped, in my view, should be put against the sort of investments her trips have brought into Nigeria. And also, if there is any query arising from the cost, it should go to the ministry and not to her. As it is now, it is obvious that she is targeted for harassment and insult.
What achievements are you referring to?
You mean you do not know that she has ensured substance of the 2.4 million barrel crude oil production per day; and the increase in gas production from 6.3 billion cubic feet to 7.8 billion cubic per day? Don’t you also know about the reduction in the quality of gas flared from 30 percent to less than 11 percent even with the increased effort to achieve gas- to-power which she is pursuing with vigour? The stability in product supply and cost is also a positive yield for her. Her achievements are measured on the upstream, downstream levels as well as local content index and these have been massive. I am proud to say that Nigeria has the right kind of person to man the office of petroleum minister in her. It is not for some mistake that the President left her there since 2010. Just go to the local content management to see the transformation that is taking place which is also creating massive job opportunities for Nigerians. That is a thing to be proud of. You know she is the first woman head of an OPEC country delegation to the annual OPEC meeting in the 51-year history of the organization.
Why the attention despite these achievements?
It is all politics my brother. I think some persons are bent on rubbishing her credentials and use that to force her out of office. But I have always said one thing: every minister holds office at the mercy and comfort of the President. If the President is satisfied with your performance, you have nothing to fear unless there is an overwhelming evidence of corrupt practice. Apart from that, all the campaign of calumny will come to nothing. So, I think the Petroleum Minister has done so well for Nigeria and we must begin to appreciate her. I will like to ask members of the House of Representatives to sheathe their sword and let the woman be. If however they insist on going on against her, then, they must wait till the matter she had filed in court is disposed of.
