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  • Amosun, Adeola bicker over allegation of ‘project diversion’

    Amosun, Adeola bicker over allegation of ‘project diversion’

    Abeokuta-A former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the Senator, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola are at logger heads, following an allegation of ‘project diversion’ by Amosun.

    Amosun, in a statement signed by his media aide, Lanre Akinwale, had accused Senator Adeola of project diversion, when a Library project at Ewang Estate Extension, Abeokuta, facilitated by Senator Olamilekan Adeola had the inscription tagged, “Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State.”

    Senator Adeola, however denied any case of project diversion as insinuated by Amosun, based on the inscription on the signpost at the completed library project.

    Senator Adeola explained that there was a budget inclusion for the renovation of Ake Pavilion, following appeals from well-meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland to complete the project that was abandoned for a period, not knowing that it was a personal project of Senator Amosun.

    Akinwale, however stated that the Ake Pavilion Project was done from Amosun’s personal resources, and not a constituency project while in office, adding that he was surprised when a Library project, facilitated by Senator Adeola had the inscription tagged, “Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State.”

    He therefore stressed that the inscription suggests that there is a budget in the Federal Appropriation for the Ake Pavilion project, which is being diverted to an entirely different project.

    “Our attention has been drawn to a Library construction project at the Ewang Estate Extension, Abeokuta, facilitated by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI).

    “However, the project board erected at the site of the Library project has a different inscription, tagged, “Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State”.

    “What this simply connotes is that there is a budget in the Federal Appropriation for the Ake Pavilion project, which is being diverted to an entirely different project. Otherwise, how could the facilitator of the Library project inscribe a narration, entirely different from what he facilitated?

    “To set the record straight, the Library project in question has no connection to the ongoing construction of the Ake Pavilion project by Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The Ake Pavilion project is Senator Amosun’s gift to the entire people of Abeokuta, and it’s being single-handedly funded by him.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, there is only one Ake Pavilion Project, and it is located at the Ake Palace Ground, Abeokuta. The project was conceptualized and designed as a tourist attraction centre by Senator Ibikunle Amosun during the twilight of his administration as Governor in 2019.

    “The actual construction of the multi-functional Ake Pavilion started in 2020, and the project was never part of his constituency projects when he served as Ogun Central Senator (2019-2023).

    “The Ake Pavilion project, which is 95 percent completed, contains an impressive 3,000-capacity Amphitheatre with an open performance area of about 3,000sqm, 3 Nos Banquet Halls of varying capacities ranging from 100 to 500, a Museum area showcasing the history of the four quarters (sections) of Abeokuta with shops for artefacts, books, Adire, administrative blocks, and other facilities, all financed by Senator Ibikunle Amosun through his personal resources.

    “While Senator Amosun welcomes the facilitation of Federal Government-funded projects to Ogun State, it is essential to ensure that such projects are done with sincerity and without misrepresenting facts.

    “We advise Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to provide accurate information to the people of Ogun State, especially Abeokuta, regarding the Library project he facilitated to Ewang Estate Extension.

    Senator Adeola, while reacting through a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Kayode Odunaro, explained that the wordings on the signpost “…..and other facilities, Ogun State” shows that the project was not confined to Ake Pavilion alone, stressing that it could include construction of roads, school, library, among others in Ogun State as determined by the implementing agency and facilitator of the project in the budget based on availability of funds.

    The statement reads, “The attention of Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West) and Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations has been drawn to a statement by Senator Ibikunle Amosun titled “Construction of Ake Pavilion Project by Senator Ibikunle Amosun: Setting the Record Straight”, where it was implied that Senator Adeola diverted a project he facilitated for the renovation of Ake Pavilion to construction of a Library at Ewang Estate Extension in Abeokuta.”

    “For the records, there is no case of diversion of project as insinuated based on the inscription on the signpost at the completed Library project. As stated in the statement of Senator Amosun, the inscription on the project is “Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and Other Facilities, Ogun State”.

    “For those not conversant with budgetary terminologies the wordings ‘and other facilities, Ogun State’ shows that the project was not confined to Ake Pavilion alone. Indeed, it could include construction of roads, school, library, among others in Ogun State as determined by the implementing agency and facilitator of the project in the budget based on availability of funds.”

    “There was indeed, a budget inclusion for the renovation of Ake Pavilion following appeals to Senator Adeola from well meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland to complete the project that was seemingly abandoned for a period. What was not made known to Senator Adeola at the point of appeals was the fact that this was a personal project of Senator Amosun and his pledge to complete it in due course using his resources”.

    “On realization of the involvement of Senator Amosun and the budget having been passed as stated in the project title, Senator Adeola shied away from taking any glory from Senator Amosun good gesture to his community and in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development decided on the construction of a Library in Ewang Estate Extension with the available funds released for the project”.

    “Finally, there is nothing untoward in the inscription at the Library as that is what is contained in the ministry’s budget that was used to fund the project. It would have been otherwise if the signpost was placed at the Ake Pavilion under construction by Senator Amosun”.

    “There is no need for whipping up controversy on what is meant for educational development of Ogun State as Senator Adeola has facilitated similar projects at Ijebu Ode and elsewhere in Ogun state.”

  • Dangote, Amosun bicker over demolition of cement factory in Ogun

    Dangote, Amosun bicker over demolition of cement factory in Ogun

    ABEOKUTA — THE President of Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday, alleged that his cement plant in Itori, Ewekoro local government area of Ogun State was demolished twice by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration, including the factory’s fencing during the second demolition.

    However, in a swift reaction to the allegation, the former Ogun State governor said that Dangote does not possess requisite approvals for constructing the structures he alleged were demolished.

    Speaking when he visited his new Cement factory located in Itori Ewekoro local government area of the state, Dangote commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for persuading him to return and resume construction of the plant, which is now nearing completion and expected to commence operations next year.

    Dangote said: “I think it is good we have it on record that the (cement) factory we are visiting now in Itori, you know it was because of His Excellency (Dapo Abiodun) that we came back.

    “That factory was demolished twice. We started, and Governor Amosun demolished it. The second time, we started again; he demolished not only the factory, including the fencing, so we left.

    “But, right now, we are coming because of His Excellency my brother, Prince Dapo Abiodun. We are now back.”
    He said the facility will feature two 6,000t/day clinker production lines, covering limestone crushing, cement packaging, and shipping, further solidifying Ogun State’s status as an industrial powerhouse.

    He said: “Dangote Cement is Africa’s leading cement producer with 52.0Mta capacity across the continent, of which almost 70% of our production is based in Nigeria. Our Obajana plant in Kogi State is currently the largest in Africa with 16.25Mta of capacity across five lines; the Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mta; Gboko plant also in Benue state has 4Mta; and Okpella plant in Edo State has 3Mta. By the time we deliver Abidjan and Itori, we will be at 61mm tons per annum next year.

    “It is on record that our investment in cement manufacturing made Nigeria self-sufficient in the product, effectively ending importation and marking its transformation into a cement exporting nation.

    “We repeated the feat in the production of fertilizer as Nigeria is now self-sufficient, with the surplus going for the export market thereby generating foreign exchange earnings for the country.

    “We rolled out automotive gas oil (AGO) in January 2024 and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in September 2024 from our 650,000 barrels per day petroleum refinery located in Ibeju-Lekki. Other products from the refinery include aviation fuels, LPG, and carbon black.

    “The refinery can meet domestic demand for all refined petroleum products. Today, we have repeated the cement story, where a country that was once a net importer of a product, is now exporting refined petroleum products.

    “Additionally, we have also commenced the production of Polypropylene at our petrochemical complex.
    “At Dangote Industries, our goal is to make Nigeria self-sufficient in whatever we consume, because we have the natural resources for the domestic manufacturing of these products and commodities.

    “This is tested by the influx of many manufacturing firms setting up their plants here. I especially would like to commend specially, my good friend and brother, the Governor of Ogun State for your vision, and deliberate policies that focus on attracting enterprises through immense support for the private sector which is now attracting investors”.

    “We have also received tremendous support and encouragement from both the traditional ruler and the good people of Itori land, which enabled the speedy takeoff of the project.

    “Similarly, we enjoyed such tremendous support from the traditional rulers in Yewa Land and host communities of Ibese Cement Plant. We are grateful for such an overwhelming show of partnership and support and ask that this same level of support be extended to the operations of the plant.

    “Nigeria is a growing economy; the developmental challenges are quite enormous and require concerted efforts to overcome them. This is why private companies should complement the government’s efforts. It is in this light that we, at Dangote Industries, continue to demonstrate our belief in this nation and its people and make investments that are targeted towards transforming the economy of the nation through our work in Ogun State as we have done elsewhere.”

    I won’t be bullied or blackmailed — Amosun

    While reacting to the allegation, Senator Amosun, who spoke through his Media Aide, Lanre Akinwale said that Dangote did not possess requisite approvals for constructing the structures he alleged were demolished.

    The former governor said: “We want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished.

    “This will, at least, help the public to put the issue in proper context and for us to know what exactly his grouse is.

    “For us, as a government, we believed that there could not be two governments in a state, and Dangote, therefore, could not operate above the law or under a different set of laws.

    “It is important to note that at the commissioning of his Ibese Cement factory, Dangote praised the Amosun administration to high heavens for its promotion of investments in Ogun State and for facilitating the commencement of the cement factory after eight years of frustration as he then alleged by other administrations.

    “Dangote is just one of the many ongoing concerns in Ogun State, and the Amosun administration is on record to have attracted over 500 companies to the state and was acknowledged by the World Bank as one of the top three states ensuring Ease-of-Doing-Business in Nigeria.

    “While we will not give vent to this obvious mischief as it is deliberate, we will advise Alhaji Dangote to furnish the public with details of the land acquisition with relevant planning approvals, and let us engage in a constructive conversation therefrom.”

    “However, while we will wait to hear from him, we would like to state that not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied or blackmailed. The notion that everyone has a price is an expression applicable only to people with weak foundations and questionable upbringing. This is why some of us will continue to uphold high standards in all our undertakings, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”