‘I Won’t Run’

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, says that she has no plan to contest in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State.

A statement signed by Dr Levi Ajuonuma, the Group General Manager (Public Affairs) of NNPC, on Wednesday in Abuja, described the speculation about the minister’s intention to contest in the polls in some quarters as baseless.

“The publication is not only misleading but it is 360 degrees different from the reality on ground.

“The fact is that Alison-Madueke is seriously occupied with the ongoing reform agenda in the oil and gas industry, which is an integral part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation programme,” the statement said.

It stressed that the transformation of the petroleum industry and the implementation of the gas revolution agenda were more important to the minister at this point than a governorship ambition.

“Once again, I wish to make it clear that the minister, at this time, is not interested in contesting for the governorship of Bayelsa State,” the statement added.