Diezani Alison-Madueke's Health: ...absent at FEC meeting on Wednesday ...sudden trip to UK fuels speculation

There were speculations on Wednesday over the mission of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke, to the United Kingdom.

The minister is believed to have travelled to the UK unannounced last week and She is not on leave.

While some sources in Abuja claimed that she was in the UK to receive medical attention, others said she went for an undisclosed private matter.

Alison-Madueke had earlier on Wednesday posted on her Facebook wall that she was hale and hearty.

“On the contrary to recently published articles concerning my health, I haven’t been hospitalised in London. Both my family and I are well,” she wrote.

But, she was absent at the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Although no reason was given for her absence, there were fears that it might not be unconnected with the report that she was currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed London hospital.

On Tuesday, Alison-Madueke did not turn up to make presentation on the budget performance of her ministry to President Goodluck Jonathan as scheduled.

Ministers who had taken their turns before the President later briefed State House correspondents at the end of their presentation.

News had gone round that Alison-Madueke would take her turn on Tuesday. But fears that she would not come for the presentation were confirmed when the Economic Management Team meeting started without her showing up.