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| President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote (l) and Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello |
Dangote Industries Limited has denied any involvement in the fire outbreak at the Kogi State House of Assembly on Monday, October 10, 2022.
The company and Kogi State Government, as well as the state assembly, have been engrossed in some form of war over the invasion of Obajana cement plant.
Dangote is being accused of illegal possession of the plant, an allegation which the company has refuted.
The state government also in the latest development, has accused the company of importing hoodlums to burn down Kogi Assembly.
A press statement to this effect was signed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who pointedly accused Dangote Industries of burning the Complex “in an attempt to possibly destroy evidence relating to the ownership tussle between the Kogi State Government and the Dangote Group over the Obajana Cement Company.”
Reacting to the allegation by Kogi State government, however, Dangote Industries, writes: “Our attention has been drawn to a circulating Press Statement issued by the Kogi State Government, wherein the Dangote Group was accused of allegedly sponsoring arsonists to set the Kogi State House of Assembly on fire in the early hours of Monday, October 10, 2022.
Kogi State in the Press statement titled, ‘Obajana: Desperation sets in as imported hoodlums burn down Kogi Assembly’, which was signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, pointedly accused Dangote of burning the Complex “in an attempt to possibly destroy evidence relating to the ownership tussle between the Kogi State Government and the Dangote Group over the Obajana Cement Company.”
In a counter statement, however, by Dangote Industries, which was signed by its Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, states that as a socially responsible corporate entity, Dangote Industries totally refute the the state government’s allegation, thus condemning it as unprofessional and irresponsible attempt “to smear our image before local and international investors and thus erode our brand value.”
The statement further reads: “Dangote Group would never stoop so low as to sponsor thugs to destroy any property belonging to either government or any individual. This runs contrary to our business ethos and everything we stand for as a leading manufacturer with teeming customers and consumers across Nigeria and Africa.
“Our lawyers have been mandated to react appropriately to the damaging allegation from the Kogi State Government within the full extent of the law.
“We urge our stakeholders and the public to disregard such irresponsible and insane statements as 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.
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