by Rachel Ogbu

Since the list indicting some owners of oil companies in the subsidy scam was released, coordinating minister for the Economy and minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and her Petroleum Resources counterpart, Diezani Allison-Madueke, has been under threat.

Recently, the Southern Mandate, a coalition of socio-political groups from the three geo-political zones of Southern Nigeria warned owners of accused oil companies against harming the ministers.

Southern Mandate said in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, that it was compelled to take the decision against the backdrop of “the unrelenting attacks on the two top public officers which have taken a frightening and absurd dimension.”

Okonjo-Iweala had cried out, last weekend, on threats by oil barons whom she alleged were harassing her and trying to intimidate her into abandoning the transparency she has brought to bear on the fuel subsidy system.

The following day, the petroleum minister also alleged that some powerful forces were after her and wanted her out of government for her roles in the various probes into shady deals in the oil sector.

The statement was signed by six coordinators of the coalition, Messrs Tito Zuokumor, Victor Akpe, Obi Okoroma, Fadairo Bamidele, and Dr. Odafe Wilson Omene.