As the year 2012 is gradually running to an end, one can’t but remember that some events, incidents or achievements had left an impression on the Nigerian masses, both positively and otherwise. Some of these activities are weaved around women. TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE looks at these women and their acts.
Stella Oduah
When she was sworn in as Aviation Minister on July 4, 2011, Stella Oduah was all smiles as she received handshakes and congratulatory messages from well wishers.
But little did she know that hell would soon be let loose in her ministry.
Before the hours of Sunday, June 4 ran out, Oduah’s radiant and smiling face had turned to that of grief. And this was as a result of the tragic national disaster – the Dana plane crash which claimed lives of 153 people on board.
The ill-fated aircraft was coming from Abuja, but crashed around Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State. At a press conference held at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority headquarters, Lagos, in tears, the aviation minister described the Dana aircraft crash as one of the worst air disasters the nation had ever witnessed.
The aviation ministry was said to be riddled with corruption and run with neglect.
Unlike the warmth and cheers Oduah received at her inception into office, knocks, criticism, blames and bitter remarks were all that she got at this occasion.
Funke Akindele
Popularly known as ‘Jennifer’, Funke Akindele has made her mark as an artiste. Akindele’s marriage was for months the talk of the town because of the controversy surrounding it.
Funke’s lover, Almaroof Oloyede, is a Muslim, while she is reported to be a ‘born again’ Christian.
This controversy was further heated up when some got to know that she and her mother are members of Pastor D.K Olukoya’s Mountain of Fire And Miracles(MFM) church.
There is also the controversy of her settling down as second wife of Oloyede.
Diezani Allison Madueke
Early in the year, Nigerians received with a blow, the news of the oil subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
This was a move initiated by the Minister of Petroleum and Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke and supported by the Finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Explaining the reason for her stand, the petroleum minister averred that the oil subsidy benefitted the wealthy more while the removal would boost the economy and development.
Okonjo-Iweala on her part said that the Federal Government is desirous of discontinuing the subsidy on petroleum products because it’s a huge financial burden on the government.
But the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the umbrella bodies of Nigerian workers, cried foul at the removal of the oil subsidy.
They described a statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan that domestic refining is only possible when fuel subsidy is removed as a deceit, stressing that Nigerians would prefer to see Jonathan fight corruption in the petroleum industry by bringing those indicted in the fuel subsidy scam to book rather than further increase fuel price. With talks between the NLC and the Federal Government failing, the NLC represented by its president, Comarade Abdulwaheed Omar on Monday, January 9, declared a national strike which featured mass rally and protest.
This strike held the nation to a stand still. While the roads were deserted, airspace and seaports were also not accessible both to domestic and international movements. At the end of the day, fuel price was increased by a percentage while the Federal Government and the masses counted their losses.
Folorunsho Alakija
SIXTY-THREE-year-old Folorunsho Alakija is reportedly worth at least $3.3 billion or roughly $700 million more than Oprah’s $2.7 billion net worth.
Founder of Famfa Oil’s which owns 60 per cent in OML 127, an offshore field that provides roughly 200,000 barrel of oil per day.
Also a fashion designer and philanthropist, Alakija owns at best $1000 million in real estate and private jet said to be worth $46 million.