Obajana ownership crisis: Dangote, Kogi Govt in war of words
…As fire guts Kogi Assembly Chamber, Gallery
…Dangote distances self from Assembly fire outbreak
…Police commences investigation
…Provide ownership document — Kogi Information Commissioner
By Idris Bakare
The leadership of Dangote Group and Kogi State Government engaged in war of words yesterday as arsonists burnt down the State House of Assembly in Lokoja during early morning of yesterday.
The worsening crisis was informed by the shutdown of Obajana Cement Plant and alleged shot of 27 workers of Obajana last week following alleged failure of the President of Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote to honour Kogi State Assembly invitations over the Obajana ownership equity controversy.
Hence, fire incident which destroyed the Chamber and Gallery of Kogi State Assembly resulted in further verbal attacks and accusing fingers of alleged involvement by Dangote Group.
Recall, in an early hour on Monday morning, fire had engulfed the Kogi State House of Assembly complex located at Crusher Area, Lokoja.
The fire ripped through the roof of the Chamber, causing extensive damage to the floor of the house.
However, in reacting to the Kogi State House of Assembly fire outbreak, the management of Dangote Group stated categorically that the group was not involved in any way with the House of Assembly fire incident.
In a statement issued by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Anthony Chiejina, the company described the allegation made by the Kogi State Government as untrue.
He regarded allegations by Kogi State officials as unprofessional attempts to smear the company’s image before local and international investors.
According to him, “As a socially responsible corporate entity, we totally refute this allegation and condemn this unprofessional and irresponsible attempt to smear our image before local and international investors and thus erode our brand value.”
He assured that Dangote Group would never stoop so low as to sponsor thugs to destroy any property belonging to either government or any individual. This, he said runs contrary to the company’s business ethos “and everything we stand for as a leading manufacturer with teeming customers and consumers across Nigeria and Africa.”
He added that lawyers of Dangote Group have been mandated to react appropriately to the damaging allegation from the Kogi State Government within the full extent of the law.
He urged stakeholders and the public to disregard such irresponsible and insane statements.
“We ask all our stakeholders, namely shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees, and the entire community of Obajana and Kogi State at large, to remain calm while we follow the legitimate and lawful process to resolve this matter with the state government,” Chiejina assured.
Not bothered with the threat of legal action against the State Government by Dangote Group,Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo urged Dangote group to provide ownership document of Obajana Cement factory rather than chasing shadow.
This statement issued was made available to Nigerian NewsDirect.
He warned Dangote Group against venting its frustration on the State Government in the ongoing Obajana Cement ownership tussle, especially as regards the fire incident that occurred in the early hours of Monday.
Kingsley said the current struggle over the ownership of Obajana Cement Company was not that of an individual but a collective agitation by Kogi state indigenes.
He said the Group’s latest attempt to malign the state government in its statement titled, “Dangote not involved in Kogi Assembly Fire Outbreak,” was a desperate one, insisting that the State Government had a “well defined channel of communication that is known to the public.”
According to him, “The Kogi State Government has warned the Dangote Group against venting its frustration on the State Government in the ongoing Obajana Cement ownership tussle, especially as regards the fire incident that occurred in the early hours of Monday.
“We remain resolute on our position concerning the Obajana Cement Company and that remains the matter to be determined rather than any attempt to drag the State Government into any midnight.
“A few days ago, we released a credible intelligence to the public, of plans by Dangote Group to attack the state and officials of government, among many other measures at stifling the voice of the Kogi State Government in the ongoing battle for the ownership of the Obajana Cement Company.
“A few days later, our Legislative Complex was razed down by fire. In the official statement of the Government of Kogi State, we called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and make their findings public.
“We reiterate that anyone found to be involved in burning down the Kogi State Assembly Complex will be prosecuted and made to face the test of justice.
“We are aware of emails and deliberate harassment of the media to concoct unfounded stories around Kogi State and Governor Yahaya Bello. But this would do nothing to change the facts around the ownership of Obajana Cement Company, which the Kogi people, and indeed, Nigerians, are interested in,
“It is a battle we need to fight for the generation-next Kogi people, while also setting a standard of transparent corporate governance.
“The present administration has created a conducive environment for investment and business growth. Many business entities have come into the state to the benefit from our economy and the people and they have very good stories to tell. What we demand here is what belongs to the state,” Fanwo declared.
Meanwhile,Kogi State Police Command has ordered thorough investigation into the fire outbreak that razed down the gallery and chambers of th House of Assembly.
The State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka who led a team of tactical operatives to the assembly complex for on the spot assessment tasked the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence investigations in synergy with the Fire Service so as to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the inferno.
