Okonjo Iweala Flip Flops on corruption and Alams case

Today at The Future Awards Symposium in Ekiti state, the minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, spoke glowingly about the government's efforts in fighting corruption. She mentioned clearing the mess in the distribution of fertiliser in some pilot states, reform of subsidy administration as well as pension administration. "We have to go back to the basics and encourage our youths to display the kind of moral values that once stigmatized corrupt practices in our society," she said. So when it was question time, the minister was asked among other things, why it was that she seemed to be saying all the right things but the body language of the government shows something contrary, with a most recent example being the pardon of "an economic criminal" called Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Okonjo-Iweala's response: Nothing. She sidestepped the question, but answered other questions thrown her way. Observers at the event say her silence says a lot and probably alludes to the fact that she is personally against the decision. But, since she didn't give any definite answer, we won't assume. We came across a 2007 TED speech by Okonjo-Iweala, titled, How to help Africa? Do business there.  She began her speech by introducing her audience to an Africa they "don't hear about a lot... an Africa that is changing." To buttress her point, she about a changing Africa, she told the story od Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. "On 15th of September 2005," she said, "Mr Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a governor of one of the oil rich states in Nigeria was arrested by the London Metropolitan Police while on a visit to London because there were transfers of $8 million that went into his account and those of his family members." She then narrated how his arrest was based on collaboration between Nuhu Ribadu's EFCC and the London Met, and how Alamieyeseigha managed to escaped dressed as a woman, but was impeached. "Today Alams, as we call him for short, is in jail," she said. "This is a story about the fact that people in Africa are no longer willing to tolerate corruption from their leaders." The minister of finance did not respond to the question on the pardon, so we do not know whether her position has morphed since 2007, just like that or Reuben Abati. You can watch the speech below: No comments today; but here’s what Okonjo-Iweala said about the Alams saga in 2007

by Stanley Azuakola

Today at The Future Awards Symposium in Ekiti state, the minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, spoke glowingly about the government's efforts in fighting corruption.

She mentioned clearing the mess in the distribution of fertiliser in some pilot states, reform of subsidy administration as well as pension administration.

"We have to go back to the basics and encourage our youths to display the kind of moral values that once stigmatized corrupt practices in our society," she said.

So when it was question time, the minister was asked among other things, why it was that she seemed to be saying all the right things but the body language of the government shows something contrary, with a most recent example being the pardon of "an economic criminal" called Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Okonjo-Iweala's response: Nothing. She sidestepped the question, but answered other questions thrown her way.

Observers at the event say her silence says a lot and probably alludes to the fact that she is personally against the decision. But, since she didn't give any definite answer, we won't assume.

We came across a 2007 TED speech by Okonjo-Iweala, titled, How to help Africa? Do business there. 

She began her speech by introducing her audience to an Africa they "don't hear about a lot... an Africa that is changing." To buttress her point, she about a changing Africa, she told the story od Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

"On 15th of September 2005," she said, "Mr Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a governor of one of the oil rich states in Nigeria was arrested by the London Metropolitan Police while on a visit to London because there were transfers of $8 million that went into his account and those of his family members."

She then narrated how his arrest was based on collaboration between Nuhu Ribadu's EFCC and the London Met, and how Alamieyeseigha managed to escaped dressed as a woman, but was impeached.

"Today Alams, as we call him for short, is in jail," she said.

"This is a story about the fact that people in Africa are no longer willing to tolerate corruption from their leaders."

The minister of finance did not respond to the question on the pardon, so we do not know whether her position has morphed since 2007, just like that or Reuben Abati.

You can watch the speech below: