Former First Lady Patience Jonathan has publicly claimed credit for shaping the business career of Azibapu Eruani, the Group President of Azikel Group, stating that she raised him “like a son” and introduced him to Nigeria’s most influential business figures. Her remarks, made during an inspection tour of the $1 billion Azikel Refinery in Bayelsa State, have gone viral, drawing attention to her account of Eruani’s rise.
Patience Jonathan’s Mentorship Claims
Speaking on Tuesday, August 11, at the Azikel Refinery in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, Dame Patience detailed how she mentored Eruani in business, according to The Punch. A video of her speech circulated widely on Thursday, August 13.
“He's a boy that I brought up. We are always together. 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.
The former First Lady recounted that Eruani was the youngest in a social circle that included billionaire businessmen Aliko Dangote and Aminu Dantata. She said she pushed him to aim higher, even when he seemed content to remain in the background.
Eruani’s Ambition and Refinery Licence Struggle
Patience Jonathan recalled that when Eruani told her he aspired to one day reach Dangote’s level, she was initially sceptical. “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.
She also revealed that during the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Eruani and others approached her for support after struggling to secure a refinery licence. She doubted the APC government would grant approval but acknowledged that they later returned with news that three refinery licences had been approved.
Azikel Refinery Milestone
The inspection tour marked the arrival of the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit, a significant milestone for the $1 billion facility. The plant is designed to process 25,000 barrels of condensate per day into petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and related products. It is set to become Nigeria’s second-largest full-slate refinery and the first major privately owned refinery in the Niger Delta.
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, attended the tour and praised Eruani’s persistence, noting he had been present at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony eight years earlier. Ogbuku said the refinery could attract investment, generate jobs, and stimulate economic growth across Bayelsa State.
Governor Douye Diri was represented by his deputy, Peter Akpe. Other dignitaries 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 viral video of Patience Jonathan’s remarks has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many commenting on her role in Eruani’s career. The refinery’s completion is expected to have significant economic implications for the region, potentially creating jobs and boosting local industry.
