Obajana Crisis: Dangote denies Yahaya Bello’s accusation of burning Kogi Assembly

The Dangote Group has denied any involvement in the fire outbreak at the Kogi State House of Assembly, on Monday as been alleged by the state government.

SOLACEBASE had reported that Kogi House of Assembly complex was destroyed by fire on Monday morning.

Speaking with Journalists during inspection of complex after the fire was put off, the Speaker of the Assembly said that he suspects sabotage but fell short of where the suspected sabotage might be from.

“We should leave security people to do their work and give us a report going forward,” the speaker said.

A statement issued by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited denied having a hand in the inferno.

The statement reads: ‘’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.

It said the statement titled, ‘Obajana: Desperation sets in as imported hoodlums burn down Kogi Assembly’, which was signed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo pointedly accused our company 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.”

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SOLACEBASE recalls that the Kogi State Government and the management of the Dangote Group have being in a running battle over the ownership of the Obajana Cement Plant.

This was as both parties insisted that the plant belonged to them.

On Wednesday some officials of the Kogi State Government allegedly moved to seal the cement plant, claiming that it belonged to the state.

Governor Yahaya Bello had on Thursday said the state government would be ready to negotiate with the company once the firm was ready to admit that the plant belonged to the state.

However, the company still insisted that the cement plant was 100 per cent theirs.

Dangote Group, in a statement, had said, “While we reiterate that Obajana Cement plant is 100 per cent owned by Dangote Cement Plc, we remain resolute in transforming Africa, while creating sustainable value for our people, communities, investors, and customers.”

‘’ As a socially responsible corporate entity, we totally refute this allegation and condemn this unprofessional and irresponsible attempt to smear our image before local and international investors and thus erode our brand value, ‘’the Dangote Group statement said.

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‘’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.’’