From Amosun to Dangote: Demand Transparency on Construction Approvals for Controversial Demolitions in Nigeria

. States 'it is not possible to compromise, bully, or blackmail every Nigerian'

LAGOS — Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has refuted allegations made by Dangote Group Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, suggesting that his cement plant was razed to the ground on two occasions during Amosun’s tenure. He characterized these claims as intentional falsehoods.

In a statement entitled "Re-Government Destroyed My Cement Plant Twice," signed by Lanre Akinwale from Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s media office, the ex-governor invited Dangote to make available to the public "the necessary permits for constructing the buildings he claimed had been demolished."

Amosun stated that his administration held the view that having dual governance within a single state was untenable, hence Dangote could not function beyond the reach of the law or under separate legal principles.

Nevertheless, as we await his response, let us assert that not every Nigerian can be swayed, intimidated, or coerced. The idea that everybody has a price applies solely to individuals with unstable backgrounds and dubious upbringings.

"This is why we some of us will keep maintaining high standards in everything we do, regardless of who gets affected," the statement read.

Nevertheless, the ex-governor remembered that when Dangote commissioned his Ibese Cement plant, he "heaped praise upon the Amosun administration for fostering investment opportunities in Ogun State and expediting the start-up of the cement facility following what he previously claimed were eight frustrating years under different administrations."

The complete statement says: "We recently viewed a video where the chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, claimed that his cement plant in Itori, Ogun State, was razed twice during Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s tenure."

We presume that an ordinary individual grasps how the government operates via its various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, where each entity carries out its assigned duties, such as granting permissions for physical development.

“It is on this basis that we want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished.

This will, at minimum, assist the public in understanding the matter correctly and enable us to clarify precisely what his concerns are.

“For us, as a government, we believed that there could not be two governments in a state, and Dangote, therefore, could not operate above the law or under a different set of laws.

It should be highlighted that during the inauguration of his Ibese Cement plant, Dangote highly commended the Amosun Administration for their strong support of investments in Ogun State and for expediting the start-up of the cement facility following eight years of setbacks allegedly caused by previous governments.

Dangote is merely one of numerous thriving enterprises in Ogun State, with the Amosun administration notably attracting more than 500 businesses to the region. The administration has also been recognized by the World Bank for being among the top three states improving ease of doing business in Nigeria.

Recognized among the leading states for reforms in 2014, showing considerable advancement compared to earlier evaluations, the World Bank report credited this development to extensive improvements across various criteria such as obtaining construction permits and property registration.

It has been documented that under Senator Amosun's leadership, Ogun State was designated as the 'Industrial Capital' of Nigeria. At that time, our state attracted approximately 75 percent of the nation's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) related to industries. This information can be verified.

This acknowledgment received additional momentum when the former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, made visits to Ogun State on five separate occasions to inaugurate various international initiatives.

Consequently, although we won’t express this evident wrongdoing because it’s intentional, we should counsel Alhaji Dangote to provide the public with information regarding the land acquisition along with pertinent planning permissions. From there, we can participate in a productive discussion.

Nevertheless, as we await his response, let us clarify that not every Nigerian can be swayed, intimidated, or coerced. The idea that everyone has a price applies solely to individuals with unstable roots and dubious backgrounds. Therefore, several among us remain committed to maintaining lofty principles regardless of who gets affected.

Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).