Missing Oil Money: Nigerians In Austria Protest Against Alison-Madueke, Today

Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa (1st left), Governot Babatunde Fashola (3rd-right), Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye (right) and winners of the finals of “be Road Friendly” competition in Lagos

As the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Alternate President of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, arrives at the 165th (Ordinary) Meeting of the group in Austria today, she will find a hostile reception waiting at the gates, as Nigerians in Austria have concluded plans to protest against her leadership of OPEC.
The Tide gathered yesterday that Gate Keepers Foundation, an organization based in Europe, is organizing a public protest today of Nigerians who are interested in the growth and development of the country to demand for the immediate sack of the minister by the Presidency.
“The protest has become necessary as a result of the failure of Diezani Alison-Madueke to account for the $20billion the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit to the Federation Account and the N10billion she allegedly squandered on private jets in just two years,” the group said in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Blessing Agbomhmre.
According to the statement, the protest will begin at the OPEC Secretariat, Helferstorferstrasse 17, A-1010, Vienna, at 9.00am (local time).
“We call on Nigerians in Diaspora, especially in Europe to come out with their placards to occupy the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna and stay there until the Secretary-General of OPEC suspends/sacks Diezani; pending when the $20billion is refunded to the Federation Account by the NNPC and the N10billion allegedly used to fly private jets is properly accounted for,” Gate Keepers said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has nominated Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke to succeed long serving incumbent, and Iraq’s Oil Minister, Abdullah al-Badri as OPEC Secretary-General.
Abdul Kareem Luaibi said yesterday that the proposal was intended to solve the deadlock over the post created by opposing candidates from Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Luaibi added that Iraq continued to back its own candidate, and the issue remained unresolved. Badri’s latest term in the office ends in December.
If the Nigerian candidacy is successful, Alison-Madueke would be the oil exporter group’s first female in the post.
OPEC is expected  to meet today in Vienna, Austria, its headquarters.