“Dieziani’s case would not be harshly treated and escalted if she was a man” – Chimamanda Adichie (Details, pics)

Nigerian Nobel writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has revealed her thoughts on the prosecution of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dieziani Alison-Madueke over fraud allegations, saying would not be criticised if she was a man.

The Nigerian writer and cultural icon, who was awarded with a honourary doctorate degree at the University of Edinburgh, said though looting is a normal practice in Nigeria by politicians and Diezani’s case is no exception, she would not have to suffer this much if she was a man..While speaking at the University of Edinburgh, Chimamanda asserts that the mentality that women should act like an angel should not be nurtured.

“I find it quite dehumanizing for women because what is means is that women cannot be judged on the same terms as men. “I remember once a politician in Nigerian who was a woman had stolen money which is an exercise most Nigerian politicians are very adept at.

“she was pilloride, I remember a journalist saying and she’ s a woman.

She added that Diezani’s case would not have aggravated if she was a man because men are expected to steal.

“Somehow the assumption was it will be better if she was a man because then Nigerians would not judge her harshly since we expect men to steal.

“I think the idea of women being another specie of angel is bad for both women and men because it makes the standards uneven. I dream of a world in which women are seen as women where women are allowed to be many things.”