The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Maduekwe, on Thursday said she would continue to pursue the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the oil and gas sector despite threats and blackmail from her detractors.
She told journalists in an interview, in Abuja that the few individuals angling for her sack were doing so because she has refused to continue the ‘business as usual’ tradition in the oil and gas sector of the economy.
She dismissed those labelling her as corrupt and inefficient as people simply afraid of Mr. Jonathan’s reform agenda in the sector; stressing that never again will the government allow the return of the age-long cartel in the country’s oil and gas sector. The minister maintained that despite the unjustified criticism and unfounded allegations against her, her greatest joy is that “a vast majority of Nigerians are happy with Mr. Jonathan for the far reaching decisions his administration has taken to stabilise the sector”.
Mrs Allison-Maduekwe said those fighting the government in the media “were doing so because we have been able to frustrate their efforts in strangulating the economy through their devilish black market and questionable profiteering at the expense of the Nigeria people”.
She stated further that “I would not want to join issues with those criticising me because they are crying foul that through us Mr. President has broken the old order where things are done without coordination. What is hurting them is that we have put policies in place where they can no longer cheat the government and cause untold hardship for millions of our Nigerians”.
According to her, operators and stakeholders in the oil and gas sector that have the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart need not be afraid of her leadership style, except those that have skeleton in their warddrope that are scared of change and reforms.
While commending the cordial relationship between her and top officials of the Ministry including those of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Pricing and Marketing Company (PPMC), Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other parastatals of the Ministry, Mrs Allison-Madukwe explained it was the harmonious relationship that has brought about the high level successes by government in the sector.
She solicited the corporation of Nigerians, oil companies and other investors at all times in order to achieve Mr President’s objectives for the sector, and commended the leadership of various union in the sector for standing by President Jonathan in the ongoing reforms of the sector.
