Former First Lady Patience Jonathan has described the Group President of Azikel Group, Dr Azibapu Eruani, as a “small boy” she personally raised and mentored into becoming one of Nigeria’s prominent businessmen.
Jonathan made the remark on Tuesday during an inspection tour of the Azikel Refinery in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, where she joined other dignitaries to assess the progress of the $1 billion project.
A video of the former First Lady’s remarks subsequently went viral on Thursday.
Jonathan said she had maintained a close relationship with Eruani and encouraged him to learn from some of Nigeria’s most successful businessmen, including Aliko Dangote and Aminu Dantata.
She recalled that Eruani was the youngest among the businessmen in their circle at the time and said she encouraged him to follow their examples and develop his business ambitions.
“He’s a boy that I brought up. We are always together,” she said.
Jonathan added that she personally introduced Eruani to Dangote and Dantata and encouraged him to aspire to their level of success.
“Although he’s the little one among us when we are friends — Dangote, Seyi, Dantata, Eruani — among us, he’s the smallest. But I made sure he followed the Dangotes, he followed Dantata,” she said.
According to the former First Lady, she often urged Eruani to focus less on talking and more on learning from established entrepreneurs.
“Because I’m a woman in their midst, I made sure I told this small boy, ‘Go and follow them, and stop the grammar,’” she recalled.
Jonathan also disclosed that Eruani had once told her he wanted to become as successful as Dangote.
She said she initially considered the ambition lofty but prayed that he would eventually achieve his goals.
“But when he told me that one day he would be like Dangote, I said, ‘You’re thinking too high.’ I prayed to God to grant him his heart’s desire,” she said.
The former First Lady also recalled Eruani’s efforts to secure approval for his refinery projects during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
She said Eruani and others had approached her after deciding to pursue refinery investments, but she initially doubted whether they would receive the necessary approvals.
“During the Buhari administration, he and others came to me and told me they were going to apply for a refinery. I told him, ‘Eruani, your brother, the President, did not give you a refinery. Is it the APC government that will give you one?’” she said.
Jonathan said she nevertheless prayed that the project would succeed, adding that Eruani later informed her that three refinery licences had been approved.
The inspection tour coincided with the arrival of the Crude Distillation Unit for the Azikel Refinery, marking another major milestone in the development of the facility.
The refinery, which is estimated at $1 billion, has a planned processing capacity of 25,000 barrels of crude per day.
It is a private hydro-skimming refinery designed to process condensate into petroleum products including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and kerosene.
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Upon completion, the facility is expected to become one of Nigeria’s largest private refineries and the first major privately owned refinery in the Niger Delta.
Also present during the inspection was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku.
Ogbuku commended Eruani for his persistence in pursuing the refinery project, recalling that he attended its groundbreaking ceremony about eight years ago.
He described the refinery as an inspiration and a potential catalyst for investment, employment and economic development in Bayelsa State.
Ogbuku also encouraged residents, particularly young people, to position themselves to benefit from the opportunities expected to emerge from the project.
He commended the Bayelsa State Government for improving road infrastructure leading to the refinery site and urged continued support for the project.
Governor Douye Diri was represented at the inspection by his deputy, Peter Akpe.
The Bayelsa State Government has consistently expressed support for the refinery, which is expected to create employment opportunities and contribute to the industrialisation of the state.
Other dignitaries at the inspection included the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubaraye Dakolo; Vice President of Azikel Group, Presley Asemota; and Isaac Yalah.
The latest development represents a significant step in the construction of the refinery as Nigeria continues to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.