By Sonala
Olumhense
His name: Muhammadu Buhari , Nigeria ’s
President-Elect. The man who, in one week, would take control of the Africa ’s most bewildering country. He was a
much-feared man, with a certain reputation for character, a man who had fought
for the presidency for years claiming he would rid Nigeria of corruption.
*Diezani Alison-Madueke |
He was swiftly checked in, accompanied by just
one person. He took First Class Seat 3K.
And then British Airways
received another surprise VIP to the same flight: Diezani Alison-Madueke , Nigeria ’s
powerful Minister of Petroleum Resources, accompanied by two aides also in
First Class. She sat behind the President-Elect.
Reports said the Minister,
her tenure down to seven days, had booked her flight only after discovering Mr.
Buhari would be on it. Widely-alleged to be the most corrupt Minister in
a government of great corruption, she hoped to soften him up in conversation
during the flight, commentators suggested.
The omens were not good for
the outgoing Minister. After taking office, Buhari on almost a daily
basis promised hell on earth for every corrupt former official.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke had
reason to be afraid. As Buhari prepared to take office, there were
further pressures. As it turned out, on that late May 2015 trip to the
United Kingdom, Buhari was received at 10 Downing Street by Prime Minister
David Cameron, who pledged “technical assistance” to the Buhari administration
to combat terrorism and corruption.
And then there was the United States ,
also offering help,and President Barack Obama reportedly giving him details of
extensive corruption within the Goodluck Jonathan government, including of a
certain Minister who had looted up to $6billion.