Kogi To Sue Dangote Over Obajana Plant Ownership Tussle

Kogi is suing Dangote over the Obajana plant ownership tussle.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Kogi State Government has resolved to drag Dangote Cement Plc to court over the ownership of the Obajana Cement Plant.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Kogi, Dangote Reach Agreement To Reopen Obajana Cement Plant – FG

• Ownership Tussle: Kogi Asks Dangote To Present Proof Of Obajana Plant’s Acquisition

• Govt Seals Off Dangote Cement Factory

Over the last few days, the state government and Dangote Group have been at loggerheads after the state sealed off the company’s cement plant over the ownership tussle.

The state claimed that the purported transfer of the facility to Dangote was not “proper”.

But the company rejected the government’s claim, saying its acquisition of the cement plant followed due process.

Earlier on Friday, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, said Kogi government and Dangote Group had agreed to reopen the Obajana cement plant.

However, the state has said the last has not been heard of its tussle with the cement company.

In a statement issued by Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Information, later on Friday, the Kogi government said it is going to reclaim what rightfully belongs to the people.

According to the statement, the decision to go to court was taken at an emergency meeting on Thursday night between key government officials, led by Governor Yahaya Bello and stakeholders representing the different ethnic groups in the state.

Fanwo noted that, at the meeting, which ran into the early hours of Friday, all stakeholders resolved to head to court in the interest of the people and generations to come.

The commissioner further said the governor made it clear to stakeholders that there was no going back on the state’s “resolve to reclaim its asset, even while he sued for calm in the interest of peace.”

The government also denied that there was ever an agreement, saying “some desperate parties are trying to promote [it] in the media to mislead the public.”

“This struggle is not about Governor Yahaya Bello or his administration. It is about the people of Kogi State. In the last 72 hours, well meaning Nigerians, leaders and government officials have waded in and have pleaded with the Governor to consider reopening of the plant while discussions are ongoing,” the statement said.

“The expectations of the over 4 million Kogites are clear and high and we want to assure them that the Governor and the Government of Kogi State will not compromise the interest of the people of the state to reclaim their rights in the cement company.

“There were series of high powered meetings to resolve the impasse, including meetings having the Governor and Alh. Aliko Dangote in attendance. Discussions were held and statements of interest were established.

“But there was no agreement yet as some desperate parties are trying to promote in the media to mislead the public. We shall be non-violent in our approach as we are sure of green pathways to success for the people in this battle for the economic future of our dear state.

“However, we maintain that the collective asset of the people of Kogi State must be protected and reclaimed in this instance. And that is the process the government has started.”

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The statement added that the Kogi government will “fight this battle to the end until we get justice from the courts” because “no committee can resolve this dispute.”

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