The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has blamed the immediate past Governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, for relocating the Dangote refinery.
The Governor absolved himself in the situation that led to relocating the $19bn Dangote refinery from Ogun State to Lagos.
Abiodun, who confirmed that he was Chairman of Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state during the administration of former governor Ibikunle Amosun, said he was not part of the moves that frustrated Dangote out of the state.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the governor said he should not be blamed for the loss.
READ ALSO: Dangote Appreciates Buhari, Tinubu, Nigerians For Their Support As He Inaugurates Refinery
Dangote had initially chosen Ogun State for the site of the refinery, which was inaugurated on Monday in Lagos, but the discussion broke down between the Ogun State government and the billionaire businessman, leading to the relocation of the project to Lagos.
In the statement, he said his predecessor, Amosun, should be blamed that Ogun lost the opportunity to host the mega refinery.
āAny 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,ā the Governor lamented.
Explaining his role, he said: āGovernor 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.
READ ALSO: How Dangote Refinery Will Help Generate 12,000 Megawatts Electricity ā Emefiele
“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.
āThe 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.ā
Abiodunās statement was in reaction to a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, who blamed the incumbent Governor for the loss of the $19bn Dangote refinery.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has felicitated Dangote on the inauguration of the integrated refinery.
Sule, who spoke during the opening and handover of the 2.2-kilometre Loko-Oweto Bridge constructed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), described the refinery as āthe end of the energy crisis in Nigeria.ā
On the bridge, Sule said: āItās another dream come true for the people of Loko and Oweto in Nasarawa and Benue States, respectively, as well as all the Southeastern part of the country. We are celebrating a dream come true of the bridge.
“Mr President, we canāt thank you enough. We believe you have paid your dues, you have done well for us and by the grace of God, God will be kind also to you.ā