Obajana: How My Peace Advocacy Was Aborted in 2017, Yahaya Bello's Aide Reveals
The senior special assistant on communication to the Kogi state governor, Dr. Oladele Nihi has commended Governor Yahaya Bello over his role following the struggle for ownership of the Dangote cement factory in the Obajana area of the state.
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Legit. ng reports that in a post on his verified Facebook handle on Saturday, Oladele commended Governor Bello for "fighting for the people of the state."
Source: UGC
He wrote:
"Kogi indigents across the board under the proactive leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello remained committed to reclaiming Obajana Cement Factory. This decision stands unchanged as plans to go to court have commenced.
"As chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi State between 2017 and 2018, I once initiated advocacy for Dangote Group to establish a healthy relationship with the host community and the state. This request as presumed was immaturely aborted and brutally sabotaged.
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"Fast forward to October 2022, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Governor Yahaya Bello, began to sing aloud the melody on the lips of over 4 million Kogi people over the continuous maltreatment being faced due to the negligence behaviors displayed by the Dangote Group over the decades.
"Despite making huge amounts of monies from the natural resources deposited in the state, Dangote Cement has failed to perform the expected corporate social responsibilities to host community and Kogi, just as the Dangote Group is doing in States such as Lagos, Kano, Abuja, and even some African countries.
He further stated:
"I therefore expressly commend the audacity of Governor Yahaya Bello for taking the bold step to initiate the procedure of reclaiming this vital asset that belongs to the people of Kogi State and not an individual parading himself as the ‘right’ owner.
"We believe as Kogites that the interest of every Kogi citizen both home and abroad is paramount to the state government under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, and he would not jeopardize the already initiated action plan for the cement factory in Obajana to be reclaimed. Yahaya Bello is representing well. Yahaya Bello means well for Kogi State. God bless Kogi," he wrote.
Why we ordered the shutdown of the Obajana plant
The Kogi state House of Assembly had on Wednesday, October 5, ordered the shutdown of a factory of Dangote Cement Plc situated at Obajana in the north-central state, saying the asset was not legitimately acquired by the firm.
Resident youths thronged the factory to drive out staff after the news of its closure order broke into the open but faced resistance from officials of the state government.
Chief among their grievances is alleged corporate social responsibility failure by Dangote Cement bordering on environmental hazards from industrial pollution induced by factory activities and neglect of the host community it is “making billions from.”
Following this, the Presidency intervened in the crisis on Monday, October 10 by meeting the warring parties.
The peace talks informed the position of the National Security Council on Friday, October 14 that an agreement had been reached between the two sides to re-open the plant in the interest of the workers.
Buhari orders the Kogi state government to reopen the Dangote Cement factory
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the National Security Council, headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, asked the Kogi state government to reopen the Dangote cement factory immediately.
It was reported that the order follows the conclusion of the meeting on Friday in State House, Abuja.
The dispute between Dangote Industries and the Kogi state government over the ownership of Africa's largest cement plant located in Obajana.
Source: Legit.ng
