The Kogi government and Dangote Cement are currently at
loggerheads following a move by the state to seal off the company’s factory
amid an “ownership tussle”.
The Kogi house of assembly had ordered the sealing of the
factory following agitations by indigenes who raised questions about the
ownership of the company.
An investigation into the company’s operations allegedly
revealed that there was nothing much to show on the circumstances surrounding
the acquisition of the company.
Youths were also said to have claimed that the company was
constituting a source of pollution for the environment, while the host
community had been neglected.
Dangote Cement was said to have been invited to appear
before the assembly, but its officials did not appear before the house despite
requesting for more time.
Amid moves by the state to seal off the factory on
Wednesday, youths were said to have surrounded the area, while there was a
shooting incident.
In a statement, Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi commissioner for
information, said a yet-to-be-identified youth was shot and is currently
receiving treatment at a government hospital in Lokoja.
“The Kogi State
Government wishes to express total support for the decision of the Kogi State
House of Assembly to seal the Dangote Cement Company over ownership tussle
between the State Government and the Dangote Group,” the statement reads.
“The successful sealing of the factory is a welcome
development to enable all parties advance providing answers to the various
unanswered questions surrounding the ownership of the Company.
“Today’s operation at Obajana has further opened the eyes of
the State Government to the criminal hub that Obajana is fast becoming, with
the level of arms and ammunition deployed by hoodlums hired to stop the sealing
of the company as directed by the State House of Assembly.
“We thank the enthusiastic young men and women who came out
in their hundreds to support the sealing of the Company as well as our gallant
security agents for repelling the criminals that were hired to stop the
implementation of a lawful resolution by the law-making body of the state.
“It is unfortunate
that one of the youths supporting the sealing of the company in solidarity with
the House of Assembly resolution was shot by the hired gunmen of the capitalist
and he is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in Lokoja.
“It is our responsibility as a government to protect the
interest of our people and we will stop at nothing to ensure Kogi’s resources
work for Kogi people.
“The Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh
Yahaya Bello, has directed security agencies to fish out those who shot the
innocent youth at Obajana and bring them to justice.”
However, sources said seven workers at the cement factory
were shot during a clash involving youths and vigilantes.
On his part, David Oluruntoba, spokesman for the Oyo mining
host community, described the shooting incident at the factory as primitive,
adding that youths should not be involved in “evil practices”.
“They called us to join them, but I told them that the
company has not offended us. We just signed a community development agreement
(CDA) and the company has been helping us and providing us with jobs. What has
the government done for us? Nothing. There is no basis to support the
government,” he said.
Also speaking, Rotimi Kekereowo, spokesman for Iwaa mining
community, said the community would not support the government’s action.
“We would never support government on this matter. What have
they done for us? We don’t have a single political appointment at the state
level. Even when we had problems of electricity and flooding, it was Dangote
that was helping us. So, I want to repeat it. We will never support them,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Fredrick Balogun, the Olu of Akpata, said he was
not aware of the decision to seal the factory beforehand.
“We are royal fathers, and we will continue to seek the path
of reconciliation and amicable resolution of any misunderstanding. We don’t
have issues with the company,” he said.
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