ABEOKUTA– The controversy that surrounds the demolition of Dangote cement factory in Itori, in Ewekoro local government area of Ogun state in 2012 may not have settled afterall.
This is just as the Chairman of Dangote group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote accused the former governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of orchestrating the demolishing of the factory twice while in office.
Speaking during his state visit on Monday, Dangote stated that he decided to return and invest in the Ogun state because of the Dapo Abiodun led administration’s vision and deliberate policies that focus on attracting investors, as well as the investor-friendly climate that exists in the state.
He added that Ogun State is one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria, positioning itself as the manufacturing ‘bedrock’ of Nigeria, while stating his desire to construct the country’s largest port at Olokola.
“I would especially like to commend, in a special way, my good friend and brother, Your Excellency, the governor of Ogun State, for your vision and deliberate policies that focus on attracting enterprises through immense support for the private sector, which is now attracting investors.
“Our factory at Itori was pulled down twice. When we started the second time, they not only demolished the factory but also the fence, so we left. But right now, because of His Excellency, our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we are back. When you visit the factory, you will be surprised at what we have done.
“We had earlier abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), but because of your policies and investor-friendly environment, I want to say we are back and will work with the state government to return to Olokola, and plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country,” he pledged.
Meanwhile, in his reaction, Amosun dismissed the allegation, saying it is a deliberate mischief to cow unsuspecting citizens.
Amosun in a released signed by Lanre Akinwale, his media aide stated that his administration did not work in isolation, as each Ministries, Departments, and Agencies exercising mandates on specific responsibilities, including approvals for physical development.
He however appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished, saying that will help the public to put the issue in proper context.
“We have just seen a footage in which the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alleged that his cement factory in Itori, Ogun State, was demolished twice while Senator Ibikunle Amosun served as governor.
“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 is important to note that at the commissioning of his Ibese Cement factory, Dangote praised the Amosun Administration to high heavens for its promotion of investments in Ogun State and for facilitating the commencement of the cement factory after eight years of frustration as he then alleged by other administrations.
“It is also on record that during Senator Amosun’s administration, Ogun State became the “Industrial Capital” of Nigeria. Our state at the time accounted for about 75 per cent of the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), in relation to industry in the country. This is a fact subject to verification”, he said
