Alison-Madueke, who is battling with cancer in London and being
investigated by UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) for alleged
corruption, has asked Nigerians for a special favour. She wants
Nigerians to pray for her as she undergoes cancer surgery next week.
Diezani Alison-Madueke
Speaking through Oscar Onwudiwe, her family's lawyer, according to
online newspaper, The Cable, Diezani, who denied reports of her
arrest, said she was undergoing cancer treatment in the UK and "hopes
to come out strong to face all the allegations."
In a statement, Onwudiwe said: "The Madueke family, like most other
families, has its own challenges. For instance, Mrs. Diezani
Alison-Madueke has been receiving treatment for cancer in the UK which
started while she was in office. She completed months of chemotherapy
just last week and she is scheduled to undergo surgery next week in
London.
The family has been bearing this challenge with prayers and as much
grace and fortitude as possible; and would plead with all reasonable
Nigerians to pray for her recovery so that she can face these
allegations and give account of her stewardship."
The call for prayers came after an earlier statement released on
Thursday in which the family revealed the state of the former
minister.
Onwudiwe
had made the following statement:
"The stories are false but it(sic) feeds the mood of the moment;
hence, the silence from Diezani all along. It is worth emphasising
that Mrs Alison-Madueke was never arrested or detained and her
passport was never seized.
She was merely invited, and she honoured it promptly. But there is a
limit to how much any reasonable person can bear the tactics of these
… We all know that what makes a lie fly is the little truth contained
therein.
This happens to be the weapon used to defame highly-placed people."
Onwudiwe also accused
the Nigerian media of reporting "laughable claims" of a purchase of
an apartment in Hyde Park with an "amount which embarrassingly ranges
from £12.5 million sterling to £13 billion sterling (N3.9tr).
"This claim is utterly false and laughable, for the amounts mentioned
are only in the imagination of the reporters. This property is quite
popular. It belongs to a well-known eminently successful Nigerian
entrepreneur who would also find this allegation embarrassing as the
intention to sell the property has neither been contemplated nor
disclosed to any person."
Mixed reaction greets Diezani's prayer request
Diezani's request elicited mixed reactions from some Nigerians. While
some said they would not pray, others said they would pray for the
speedy recovery of the former minister to enable her face her graft
trial.
We will pray for her and all Nigerians – Ikokwu
Second Republic Politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu, who has always called
for the restructuring of the country and adoption of the parliamentary
system of government to check corruption, urged Nigerians to pray for
the former oil minister.
''We will pray for her and all other Nigerians, both those who are
ill and well so that God bestows His mercy on all for the right things
to be done in the nation. Nigeria needs God's mercy. God knows those
who are guilty and those who are not guilty,'' he said.
We will pray she recovers and asks for God's forgiveness – Sarah Jubril
Former Presidential Candidate, Mrs Sarah Jubril said apart from quick
recovery it is also good for Diezani to ask for God's forgiveness if
she is guilty of the graft allegations.
Her words: ''Thank God she believes Nigerians have a forgiving heart.
We will pray she recovers and ask God for forgiveness if the
allegations against her are true. Thank God she is alive. I wish her
quick recovery. It is good she has the humility to ask Nigerians for
their prayers. We hope to see her in good health soon.''
She doesn't deserve our prayers – Gbagi
However, former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth
Gbagi, disagreed and urged Nigerians not to pray for the former
minister.
-Vanguard
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