A Northern group, Arewa Intelligentia Caucus has rained heavy knock on Aliko Dangote, saying his cheap blackmail of the officials of NNPC will not take him anywhere.
The Group in a Press Statement signed by Abubakar Ciroma (President) and Nasir Adamu (Publicity Secretary), while blasting Aliko Dangote, said that Nigerians were used to his diabolical emasculation and total domination of every sector of the nation economy, challenging him to come out clean of accusation that he was producing poor quality petroleum products
According to the group, there are countless narratives in the public space from different quarters to make Alhaji Aliko Dangote appear as a victim and underdog, rather than being the villain, in the current interchange between him and the management of the NNPCL, claiming that the cunning businessman had mobilized different PRO groups and individuals to garner support and ensure sympathy pours in torrents for him.
The group stated that the one man riot squad of the nation’s business firmament now bask in favourable lights generated at his behest, adding that; “But are Nigerians at this point sold on Aliko Dangote’s manipulative antics? We doubt it very much. Dangote won’t find it easy to fool Nigerians again – taking into account his antecedents – which is replete with diabolical choke holds to asphyxiate, emasculate and totally dominate every sector of the nation’s economy”.
They noted that the fallouts from debates on the Dangote Refinery has now taken the front burner as the nation’s issue of first sight, saying that it has in fact taken the wind off the sails of every other matter – and has become the conversation of the moment.
“But the businessman won’t succeed to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians, as he intends to achieve with propaganda. He succeeded to acquire absolute monopoly in the cement, sugar and salt sectors. But Nigerians won’t be misled by his current crocodile tears over the poor quality of his petroleum products”, the group said.
They noted that when former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Dangote Refinery ,just before he left office, Nigerians thought a Daniel had come to judgement, to rescue the nation from the vice grip of multinationals manipulation on fuel availability in the country.
The group said that; “It was however a complete ruse. The same schemes he adopted in the past to crush Benue Cement, Ibeto and other brands out of business are here again playing out – but the NNPCL must remain unfazed and vigilant”.
“Not only was the nation’s commonwealth heavily invested in the refinery – the investment was however masked in trickery – between Aliko Dangote and Godwin Emefiele – the then CBN Governor to shortchange the system, as was revealed later through the grapevine. The actual level of complicity between both men is still vague and beyond the knowledge of the ordinary man”, the group added.
The Arewa Intelligentia Caucus said that President Muhammadu Buhari had never been known to be meticulous in governance and affairs of state, saying that behind his back the duo diverted substantial resources of the CBN for the construction of the refinery.
The group said that Engr. Mele Kyari from the onset had remained unimpressed, and never wanted to commit NNPCL resources to the Dangote project, adding that; “The same was also recently revealed by Aliko Dangote. Due to skepticism and uncertainty of the investment, the corporation invested only 7% out of the earlier envisaged 20%. This was hinged on in – depth professional understanding of the issues involved”.
“Be that as it may, we as a northern group – fervent after integrity and the quest for truth, had with a bird’s eye followed the circuitous altercations between the management of the NNPCL led by the respected, unassuming and performing Engr. Mele Kyari. Alhaji Aliko Dangote on his part, through subterfuge, propaganda and misinformation wants to mislead everyone.
Much of the public is gullible, undiscerning and lacks knowledge, and some are being swayed and convinced by Dangote’s fake patriotic narratives. But we urge everyone to be more discerning and never to relegate the expertise, experience and professional contributions of Engineer Farouk Ahmed in the debate”, they stated.
The group added; “His revelation that the products of Dangote Refinery are below required specifications and therefore substandard and inferior must be taken serious – and not as smear campaigns to diminish Dangote. His comments are rooted on scientific evaluation and findings.
If Dangote feels piqued and unhappy over Engr. Farouk Ahmed’s statement, then we challenged him to come out in defence of the refinery – as against the professional opinion of the seasoned petroleum engineer – than hire media men and public opinion moulders to salvage the sagging reputation of his refinery”.
The group said that NNPCL won’t succumb to the harassment, nor be cornered or browbeaten by the sly vituperations of non professionals, adding that; “The Corporation won’t be intimidated to jettison its time honoured obligation and national responsibilities. Despite all the sponsored attacks, it shouldn’t allow inferior petroleum products into the country. The NNPCL must at all times hold on to its professional integrity. Let Aliko Dangote and his propagandists keep crying foul – we neither smell, nor see any in the horizon”.
“Dangote’s gimmicks are bound to crash like a pack of cards – as repeated lies won’t ever become the truth. While the controversy rages and appear to suffuse every section of our national life and ethos – the Management of Dangote Refinery is tongue tied and locked away in a cocoon. They haven’t come out to boldly defend their products with verified facts – rather they are in a closet, from where they mobilize public sentiments against the NNPCL”, the group said.
The group also held out that; “Alhaji Aliko Dangote is an institution in the Nigerian business environment. No individual or group gets on a head -on collision with him and survives to tell the story. He uses unorthodox methods to run every competitor out of business. We therefore commend the management of NNPCL for holding on tenaciously to her virtues – despite all shenanigans made to paralyze its regulatory responsibilities, and permit the introduction of inferior petroleum products into the Nigerian market”.
“We refused to be frightened and boxed in from speaking truth to Aliko Dangote. It is a cheap blackmail for him to have accused officials of the NNPC of clandestinely running a blending plant somewhere, off the coast of Malta, where they refine Nigerian crude and ship same back to the country for sale.
We therefore ask him to mention the officials involved, or else maintain his peace. But if it is the truth, then he mustn’t shirk his responsibility as a true patriot. We however know his allegations are baseless, outright lies and another dubious tactics to win public sympathy – after his diesel was declared inferior and unfit for use”, they said.
According to the group, the general public should be wary of all paid agents and hirelings of Aliko Dangote to discredit and demonize the NNPCL Management and officials, especially Mele Kyari, saying that President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is not oblivious to the facts of the matter, in the on going altercations between the NNPCL management and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
“At the appropriate time, we believe Mr. President would step up to revolve the imbroglio. Until then, we urge all Nigerians to sustain the present peace and remain focus”, they said.