October 14, (THEWILL) – Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has ordered Dangote Group to shut down its operation within 48 hours, following the controversy surrounding the ownership of the cement factory located in Obajana.
Bello ordered that the factory remain closed for the next two days until a workable solution was provided to resolve the crisis between the business conglomerate and the state government.
The governor, in a statement released on Thursday, by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, also ordered the immediate release of all Dangote trucks impounded across the state.
According to him, this will allow the innocent drivers caught in the unnecessary battle to go about their legitimate business without hindrance.
Bello, while explaining the reason the factory has to remain shut, it would not allow the Dangote Group to shortchange the state of its legitimate earnings, noting that he was grateful to the people for their cooperation in their resoluteness over the ownership of the factory.
He urged the people to remain civil, law-abiding and give room for constitutionalism, despite the State Government recognising their rights to peaceful protest, as witnessed across the state.
He said, “Breakdown of law and order will not be in the interest of anyone as we hope to remain the most peaceful state in Nigeria. To this end, the Governor has directed that “trucks loading cement impounded across the State be released immediately to either return to the plant or go to their destinations peacefully.
“As a State, we must retain the peaceful and business-friendly environment that has attracted scores of investment giants to the state in the last seven years.”
The governor, therefore, charged the management of Dangote Group to ensure that the Cement Factory is shut down within the next 48 hours in honour of the legislative arm of the Government, which ordered the plant sealed until the Dangote Group furnishes the legislature with the requisite documents demanded by the legislature.
He said, “As a Government, we will defend and protect all Government institutions against impunity. The Governor wishes to assure the people of the state of his unwavering commitment to defending their interest without compromise.
“As the face of the struggle with the over four million Kogites behind him, he will ensure the interest of the state is defended with a high sense of integrity, responsibility and allegiance through democratic instruments.
“We call on the people to remain calm and law-abiding, as well as continue to have faith in the leadership of the Governor to deliver on the mandate of the people to take back what belongs to them.
“We also urge security agents to be on red alert to prevent anarchy in the face of the boiling anger of the people against exploitation and oppression. We can only win the battle ahead with cool heads. When our people come together like we are now, all we can do is win”, he added.
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