Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has issued a response to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s allegations regarding his alleged role in the relocation of the multi-billion Dangote Refinery from Ogun State to Lagos State.
Governor Abiodun recently accused Amosun of sabotaging Ogun State’s chances of hosting the $19 billion project due to a personal disagreement between the former governor and Aliko Dangote, the business mogul behind the refinery. This controversy has sparked a heated debate in Ogun State since the inauguration of the refinery took place in Lagos.
Segun Showunmi, a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributed the loss of the project to “bad politics” and called for legislation to punish economic sabotage resulting from such political maneuvering.
In response, Governor Abiodun denied responsibility for the refinery’s relocation and claimed that it was due to the disagreement between Amosun and Dangote. He acknowledged that he served as the Chairman of the Committee on the Olokola Free Trade Zone projects when the refinery project was moved to Lagos. According to a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Abiodun asserted that he had done everything within his power to ensure the project’s success but was hindered by Amosun’s actions.
Senator Amosun swiftly responded to his successor’s accusations through a statement released by his media aide, Bola Adeyemi. Amosun disputed the claims made against him and challenged Governor Abiodun to provide concrete evidence supporting his allegations. The former governor emphasized that one of the primary reasons Ogun State lost the project was his administration’s insistence on allocating 500 hectares of land for the benefit of the local community.
Amosun expressed concern that if false narratives were left unchallenged, the public might perceive them as truth. He declared that his current statement would be his final word on the matter.
He added, “As Governor, I would never have knowingly let any opportunity slip past Ogun State and its people. I did my best to the satisfaction and conviction of my conscience. It is my hope that this intervention will bring clarity to the Olokola Free Trade Zone and the Dangote Refinery relocation controversy.”
