The former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has refuted claims by his successor, Dapo Abiodun, that he was responsible for the relocation of the $19bn Dangote refinery from Ogun to Lagos State.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Bola Adeyemi, Amosun labelled Abiodun’s allegations as “lies.” He argued that the decision to move the refinery was made by Alhaji Aliko Dangote himself according to his business strategy and risk assessment.
Amosun also clarified that the Olokola Free Trade Zone project was a Joint Venture between the Federal Government of Nigeria (which owned the majority 51%), Ondo State Government (14.5%), Ogun State Government (14.5%), strategic core investors (20%), and Alhaji Aliko Dangote who subsequently bought and took over the 20% equity of the core investors.
As Governor at the time, Amosun appointed two carefully chosen stakeholders of Ogun East/Ogun Waterside Local Government extraction to represent Ogun State’s interest in the joint venture enterprise and advise the state. These were Dapo Abiodun (now Governor) and Mrs Kemi Adeosun, then Commissioner for Finance, who hailed from the host community of the Olokola project.
Amosun challenged Abiodun to disclose with facts where he or his administration was remiss and which might have led to the project being moved away from Ogun State. He added that he would never have knowingly let any opportunity slip past Ogun State and its people, as he did his best to the satisfaction and conviction of his conscience.
Finally, Amosun hopes that this intervention will give clarity to the vexed subject of the Olokola Free Trade Zone and the relocation of the Dangote Refinery controversy.
Source: Punch NG