15 April 2014, Abuja – The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has dismissed the latest allegation of financial recklessness against the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, describing it as diversionary and an exhibition of pull-him-down syndrome.
Briefing newsmen in Lagos, NANS President, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo noted that it was not absolving the minister of the allegations, but regretted that the manner in which allegations are made against the leadership class in Nigeria.
His words: ‘’It would be recalled that these sorts of allegations were levelled against the former minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, when he was said to have sold property to his family members, but in his swift reaction, the former minister asked, ‘does being a minister bar my family members from being Nigerians, and so not entitled to bid for property like other Nigerians?’
“We must understand that this woman, within the last seven years has continued to serve Nigeria in several capacities, with her background as the first female to attain the position of executive director in Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, where merit is appreciated and celebrated.”
glomerate , she deserves our applause, especially to encourage others like her to join the reform in the country.”
‘’you cannot totally separate this woman from her family members and when you see a family member around her using official facility, we begin to probe. But if she should drop dead tomorrow in the course of serving Nigeria, will her family not be the first contact to be called to action?”
– Dapo Akinrefon, Vanguard