From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
The face-off between the Dangote Group and Kogi State government over the ownership of the Obajana cement plant is degenerating by the day as the state government yesterday claimed it has uncovered plots by the conglomerate to launch mayhem across the state by attacking government officials and also “obliterate” documents containing agreements between the government and the company.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement said that the government is in possession of a 28-minute WhatsApp call recording of what he described as ‘satanic resolutions’ reached by officials of the Dangote Group during a meeting they held on Friday night to cause chaos in the state.
Fanwo said that some of the alleged plans by the Dangote Group were to use the Department of State Security and other security agencies to arrest top government officials on frivolous charges; use the Economic and Financial Crime Commission to arrest some government officials in order to cow them and to also use the media to promote falsehood against the government and people of Kogi State.
He also claimed that the company officials resolved to initiate both civil and criminal proceedings against certain government officials, block all the major highways across the state with their trucks to make it impossible for the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to move out of the state capital.
Among other plans, he further claimed, the Dangote Group resolved at the said meeting to put out a false allegation that officials of the government that went to carry out the directive of the state House of Assembly made away with N207 million belonging to the company.
Fanwo said that the over 28 minutes recorded meeting typified the mindset of an economic oppressor “who thinks he can use every apparatus of the Federal Government to fight our dear state into submission.
“We have uncovered certain plans by the Dangote Group at a meeting held last night to cause chaos across the state as a counter-attack against the State Government’s decision to get its own legally supported equity from the Obajana Cement Company. The latest strategy stems from frustrations occasioned by the failure of the Dangote Group to misinform the general public and its shareholders as the State Government has consistently and continuously presented the facts of the matter to the public.
“A top management staff of Dangote Group erroneously called a top government official as the said meeting was going on to hatch their satanic plans against the government and people of Kogi State. The call which came in at 10:06pm went on for 28 minutes, 12 seconds, detailing how the Dangote Group intends to doctor documents to prove they own the cement company, 100 per cent; how they intend to use the DSS and other security agencies to arrest top government officials on frivolous charges; how they intend to use the EFCC to arrest some government officials in order to cow them; how they also intend to use the media to promote falsehood against the government and people of Kogi State and sundry other satanic plans against the people and government of our dear state.
“The over 28 minutes recorded meeting typifies the mindset of an economic oppressor who thinks he can use every apparatus of the Federal Government to fight our dear state into submission. Nigeria is what it is today because certain individuals think they own the country and can get away with any atrocity they commit.
“We make bold to say that if the Dangote Group attempts to carry out any of his threats or deny our claims above, which are supported by facts, we will release visuals and audio of the said meeting and the whole world will see the mindset and modus operandi of Alh. Aliko Dangote and his conglomerate. We are a people that cannot be destroyed by the whims and caprices of the capitalist dominance that the Dangote Group stands for,” Fanwo said.
While calling on security agencies to be on red alert to forestall any breakdown of law and order, Fanwo said: “It is our wish to ensure the agitation to reclaim our equity at Obajana is non-violent as we have all that is required to win the battle. Security agencies should resist the temptation of being used by the Dangote Group to harass officials of government and our people as hatched at the ill-fated meeting.”
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Cement Plc has accused the Kogi State government of invading its Obajana Cement Plant, using armed vigilantes.
According to the company, the vigilantes were led by some officials of the state government and “apparently acting on a resolution of the Kogi State House of Assembly on controversial tax claims; claims that the state governor had also contradicted when he said the shutdown was due to an alleged invalid acquisition of the company by Dangote Industries Limited.
“In the process of forcefully evicting the workers to enforce the shutdown, the vigilantes shot at 27 of our workers and also destroyed some of the company’s property at the plant.
“We have taken steps to get the hoodlums apprehended by the law enforcement agencies, and we will ensure that full legal action is taken against them.”
The GMD, Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos, who made this known in a statement, appealed “to all our staff and our esteemed customers to remain calm while we explore all possible legal steps to address the situation. The welfare of our staff remains our key focus as we work hard to minimize further impact on our people and operations.
“While we reiterate that Obajana Cement plant is 100% owned by Dangote Cement PLC, we remain resolute in transforming Africa, while creating sustainable value for our people, communities, investors and customers.”