The Kogi State Government has cautioned the Dangote Group against venting its frustration on the state government in the ongoing Obajana Cement ownership tussle, saying the company should prove its ownership.
The state government made this known via a statement issued on Monday by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo.
Fanwo enjoined the Dangote Group to focus on “proving its ‘total ownership’ of Obajana Cement Company rather than chasing shadows.”
The commissioner stated that the company’s latest attempt to malign the state government in its statement titled, ‘Dangote not involved in Kogi Assembly Fire Outbreak’, was a desperate one, stressing that the state has a “well defined channel of communication that is known to the public”.
Fanwo said the current struggle over the ownership of the company was not that of an individual but a collective agitation by indigenes of the state who had felt shortchanged for too long as regards the subject matter.
He stated: “We remain resolute in our position on the Obajana Cement Company and that remains the matter to be determined rather than any attempt to drag the state government into any mudfight.
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“A few days ago, we released a credible intelligence to the public, of plans by Dangote Group to attack the state and officials of government.
“Among many other measures at stifling the voice of the Kogi government in the ongoing battle for the ownership of the Obajana Cement Company. A few days later, our legislative complex was razed by fire.
“In the official statement of the government of Kogi, we called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and make their findings public.
“We reiterate that anyone found to be involved in burning down the Kogi Assembly complex will be prosecuted and made to face the test of justice,” Fanwo said.
He noted that only the truth could resolve the ongoing ownership tussle, saying the state government would “not succumb to any psychological warfare”.
“We are aware of emails and deliberate harassment of the media to concoct unfounded stories around Kogi and Governor Yahaya Bello.
“But this will do nothing to change the facts around the ownership of Obajana Cement Company, which the Kogi people, and indeed, Nigerians, are interested in,” the commissioner added.
He noted that out that the struggle was about the people of Kogi State and the integrity of the country.
“It is a battle we need to fight for the generation-next Kogi people, while also setting a standard of transparent corporate governance.
“The present administration has created a conducive environment for investments and business growth.
“Many business entities have come into the state, to the benefit of our economy and the people and they have very good stories to tell. What we demand here is what belongs to the state,” Fanwo said.
