Blame Amosun for the loss of Dangote Refinery to Lagos – Gov Abiodun

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has said he has no blame in the circumstances that led to the relocation of the multi-billion dollar Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals to Lagos State from Ogun.

According to Abiodun, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun should rather be blamed for the loss of the huge investment in the state.

Abiodun, who confirmed that he was Chairman,  Olokola Free Trade Zone, in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state during the administration of  Amosun, said he was not part of the moves that frustrated Dangote out of the state.

The governor made the clarification in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin on Tuesday, insisting that he should not be blamed for the loss.

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It would be recalled that Dangote had initially chosen Ogun State for  the  site  of the refinery. Discussion, however, broke down between the promoter of the project, Aliko Dangote and the state government leading to its relocation to Lagos State.

The refinery was inaugurated on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari. 

“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.

“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 the 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”, the statement read in part.

The governor was reacting to a comment by a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, who blamed the incumbent governor for  the loss of the  $19bn Dangote refinery.