Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, on Thursday broke down in tears while discussing the controversy surrounding the tentative closure of Dangote Cement Factory, Obajana, Kogi State.
Raye24reporters had reported how Dangote Cement Factory was sealed by personnel of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS).
Five workers of Dangote were shot by vigilante group members while enforcing the company closure.
Shedding light on the matter, Bello said late Kogi State Governor, Abubakar Audu “was so visionary enough to establish, acquire mining license, acquire the C of O, invest, operate and run the Obajana Cement factory one hundred percent, before the coming of Dangote.
“We are not interested in shutting down Obajana Cement factory, purportedly said to be Dangote Cement factory,” Bello said.
“If there is anything, we are wanting more of such to come to this state.”
Explaining the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s sanction against the company, an emotional Bello said the Kogi State Government received “heaps of petitions” from the general public, about Dangote, and all efforts to sit down with its proprietor, Aliko, failed.
According to him, all efforts by authorities in Kogi to make Dangote realise “the impending danger” fell on deaf ears.
Speaking on why the petitioners approached the Kogi State House of Assembly, Bello said he offered them the advice when some stakeholders felt he was not swift in dealing with the situation.
“So far, according to the report before me, Obajana Cement factory does not belong to Dangote,” the governor said, adding that Dangote factory’s “exploration” is causing “climatic damage.”
