TheCable

A group known as The Ijaw Women Connect (IWC) says it will not allow anyone victimise Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former minister of petroleum resources.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, IWC said there is an attempt to intimidate Alison-Madueke over her recent comment on the erosion of social values in the society.

While speaking at a virtual conference organised by Ijaw Nation Development Group (INDG), the umbrella body of Ijaw cultural associations, the former minister had lamented that fraudsters better known as “yahoo boys” have become role models in the society.

Her comments sparked an outrage, with many asking her to answer to the corruption charges leveled against her.

Alison-Madueke relocated to London shortly before former President Goodluck Jonathan handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting chairman of the EFCC, had alleged that she stole $2.5 billion from the federal government, an allegation she has denied.

In the statement, Rosemary John-Oduone, IWC president, said Alison-Madueke’s attempt to reform and introduce transparency into the oil sector “made her persona-non-grata”.

John-Oduone said the former minister’s lecture was not about “Yahoo boys” but on some problems affecting not just Ijaw people or Nigerians but young black men around the world.

“We shall never allow the press or indeed any organisation to victimise any Ijaw woman especially our sister who we coaxed out of solitude to demonstrate the character and strength of the Ijaw woman at the conference,” the IWC president said.

“We salute her courage and bravery to come out and answer the call of her people, presenting her strong voice, in spite of the travails she faces, which we know are only mere distractions that will not quench the fire that burns in her for the betterment of her people and the nation as a whole.

“She also compassionately called for Ijaw-women to take their place in contributing to Ijaw-Nation development from a point of view of self-reliance and self-development.

“Let us remind the venomous nay-sayers that our daughter is a proud but not arrogant Ijaw woman.”

John-Oduone, who said the allegations against her are unsubstantiated, added that while in office, Alison-Madueke pushed for far-reaching institutional reforms in the oil and gas industry.

“Our sister even asked to be joined in charges a couple years ago and was prepared to return, if possible, in order to defend her name and this was refused by the EFCC and the Nigerian courts! Her main accusers, in the form of the EFCC, are currently even now facing far more grievous financial misappropriation charges themselves. So, let no one call her guilty,” she said.

“If there are any charges against her, then let us wait for them to be answered in court – no one can be guilty until it is proven! This is the law.

“The travails of Dr. Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, are a metaphor for the Ijaw experience. We are teaching Ijaw women to focus on Ijaw self-driven development and to ensure that we seek out our own and stand firmly with them.”