No Truce Between Kogi Govt, Dangote Over Obajana Cement Plant Yet …Kogi Govt Heads To Court

Contrary to reports in some online media that the Kogi State Government and management of Dangote Cement have reached an agreement for the re-opening of Obajana Cement Plant in the state, WazobiaReporters has learnt that no truce has been reached yet.

This is as the Kogi state government has decided to drag drag Dangote Cement Plc to court.

Highly authoritative source within the Government of Kogi State told our reporter that “there is no true in the report that the State Government and Dangote have reached any agreement. Nothing like that has happened and I am speaking authoritatively.”

“You can’t acquire a business without consideration, else, the agreement is null and void. Kogi State Government will sure fight this to a logical conclusion,” the source said further.

The Kogi state government and Dangote Group have been at loggerheads over the ownership structure of the cement factory.

The National Security Council had ordered the re-opening of the cement company, saying that the directive was to give room for peace in the state.

The Council, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, gave the order at the end of its meeting in Abuja on Friday.

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, who addressed the press after the meeting, said an agreement had been reached to ensure the re-opening of the cement company in Obajana.

He said: “An agreement has been reached between the Kogi State government and the Dangote Cement in Kogi on the need to re-open the factory and ensure that there is peace in the state.

“Government is committed to the provision of employment to its citizens rather than closing factories that will make people unemployed.

“We do hope that the parties involved will respect this agreement and come to terms with the memorandum of understanding signed by the parties involved,” he added.

However, the source debunked the report, describing it as false and misleading.

“What is the business of the National Security Council in a dispute between Kogi State Government and a private company? When did the Minister of Police Affairs become the spokesperson of the Kogi State Government? They are only being clever by half,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government resolved on Friday, to drag Dangote Cement Plc to court with the sole aim of “reclaiming what rightfully belongs to the people.”

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.

A statement signed by the Hon. Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo on Friday evening said 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.

He said the Governor made it clear 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.

“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 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. We will fight this battle to the end until we get justice from the courts. No committee can resolve this dispute,” the statement said.