Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun State, has publicly decided to exonerate himself of guilt. There has been an ongoing discussion about the relocation of the $19 billion Dangote refinery from Ogun State to Lagos. Abiodun, who stated that he was Chairman of the Olokola Free Trade Zone in the state’s Ogun Waterside Local Government Area during previous governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration, claimed he was not involved in the efforts that drove Dangote out of the state.
He signed a statement made by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin. In the statement, the governor stated that he should not be held responsible for the loss. The refinery, which was officially commissioned on Monday in Lagos, was originally planned to be built in Ogun State. However, negotiations between the Ogun State government and the wealthy businessman broke down. This unfortunately forced the move of the project to Lagos.
He claimed that his predecessor, Amosun, was as Ogun missed the chance to host the massive refinery. Governor bemoaned this saying-
“Any true born Ogun indigene will sincerely be pained by the huge investment loss, especially when Ogun had been marked as the most suitable natural location for the mega project in Olokola Free Trade Zone, in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state”.
In further explaining his role, he said-
“Governor Abiodun, as the chairman of the committee and a big player in the oil and gas industry himself, did everything possible to make sure the project saw the light of day.
“The then governor, perhaps, having a personal axe to grind with the promoter of the refinery project, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, frustrated all the efforts of Governor Abiodun and his committee.
The immediate Chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, who was then a commissioner, served as the secretary of the committee, which engaged Dangote on the mega project.
“Instead of showing enthusiasm towards hosting the project in the state, the former governor brazenly opposed and obstructed efforts of the Abiodun-led committee in ensuring that the OKFTZ came into fruition.”
Abiodun’s comments came in response to a former Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Segun Sowunmi. He had specifically blamed the incumbent governor for the loss of the $19 billion Dangote refinery.
cc: Punch Ng
