Dangote and the Cleric’s call…here’s what to know
Photo credit: Wikipedia
An interesting event happened on Wednesday, 8th January, at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, when the vicar and archdeacon of Ikoyi Anglican Communion, Folorunso Agbelusi, called out Aliko Dangote during his sermon.
According to the cableng, the congregation, which comprises the crème de la crème of society and other country people, were stunned by the cleric’s unexpected remarks, while some applauded to show their agreement with the vicar’s words, and others looked on with apparent amazement in the service.
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Here’s the reason for the service
The service was a celebratory/thanksgiving service held to mark the 90th birthday of elder statesman and culture icon Mr. Frank Abiodun Aig-Imoukhuede.
Though a devout Muslim, Dangote made himself available at the service to honour his close friend, the celebrant.
What the cleric said
It was reported that the cleric pleaded with Aliko Dangote not to forget his good investment plans for Nigeria.
In his words, “I want to address our brother, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who is here with us… and to plead with him not to go back on whatever good plans he has about Nigeria. Sir, that investment in steel you have been thinking about, please, don’t abandon the idea. Nigeria is counting on you. Your investments are not for this generation alone. Don’t abandon the country…”
This remarkable shift in the Sunday sermon has attracted lots of reactions, as many Nigerians have weighed the depth and import of the words of the vicar.
Dangote’s reaction towards the remark
Business Day reports that Dangote seems apparently stunned by the speech, but he nodded gently and gave a smile when the vicar made his remark. Apparently, Dangote doesn’t want to appear offensive or defensive because of the calibre of people present at the occasion.
Top figures present at the event include the governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun; the chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia; former CBN governor, Joseph Sanusi; bankers; and many others.
Recall that Dangote had previously stated that he would no longer proceed with his plans to invest in the building of a steel plant in Nigeria. The business mogul spoke of the frustrations and excess red tape he suffered in the hands of government officials while trying to get his $20 billion refinery and petrochemical complex to commence production.
He also talks about the obstacles set up by different government agencies to cripple his business. Dangote further revealed that the cabals in Nigeria’s oil industry are more powerful than the drug cartels of Mexico and Colombia.
He also expressed sadness over the government’s insistence on fuel importation despite the Dangote refineries’s capability in producing sufficient fuel for the country and also for export.
Dangote’s revelation came as shocking news to Nigerians. And it implied that the government is actually after all concerned about the economic situations of the citizens because it was the Dangote refinery that brought about a reduction in fuel prices some months ago.
Though, the federal government has made various attempts to salvage the effect of Dangote’s revelation, yet the citizens knows it’s all part of political rhetoric.
