Open Letter To President Aliko Dangote Ii

Open Letter To President Aliko Dangote II

Abdu Isa Kofarmata

22^nd May, 2006

Mr. President, the last letter was in September, 2005, and in that letter titled OPEN LETER TO PRESIDENT ALIKO DANGOTE, I humbly and sincerely intended to only brotherly advice and cautioned the president Dangote Group and chief financier of Obasanjo tenure elongation project. My innocence belief then was that the president was ill-advised, misled or ignorantly misguided by some opportunist. However, to the surprise of many, (including his admirers) the president is neither acting ignorantly nor was he misled but is fully aware of all his actions and inactions and that whatever he has done or is doing, is deliberate and is doing it with clear knowledge, conscience and enthusiasm. This is not an advisory letter of course, but a statement of facts and expression of the popular opinion among the down trodden people of Nigeria on the president and chief executive of Dangote group.

Here we are in Nigeria where dubious and corrupt individuals and corporate bodies parades themselves in our streets as entrepreneurs and industrialist, while in the actual sense of it, they are fair weather contractors, commission seekers and ten per centers, grant and waiver seekers who in the ordinary economic sense contributes nothing to our economy but promote corruption in the system by acting as fronts and business associates of corrupt government officials.

Recent political events in our country have vindicated my earlier assertions as contained in the first letter. Though vast majority of our people are battling with the high cost of essential commodities such as sugar, flour, cement etc. as masterminded by the president, it is still hard for us to let go without musing a word over the economic and political atrocities committed against us. Mr. President, it is close to impossible for us to be intimidated, harassed or shut us off on what we believe religiously is our fundamental right to express our feeling especially where it boarders on our very survival and economic well-being as citizens of this country.

It is important for the president to note that, challenges and criticisms on his person, companies and products have just began since the president has deliberately opted to put himself and his business empire into the dirty water of our national politics. Our understanding of Aliko Dangote and Dangote products are the same, therefore criticisms, challenges and campaign against his products is a duty on every Nigerian especially the masses whom your actions and inactions has led into the present state of anguish, hunger and hard economic situation. The struggle against this primitive accumulation and economic exploitation by few self seeking elites is legal and legitimate.

It is disheartening to see that with all the waivers, grants and exemptions extended to the president as well as the fraudulent purchase of our national assets without corresponding economic and infrastructural development, the president has the audacity to organize and mobilize funds to finance the tenure elongation project of the present regime. Mr. President is fully aware that every minute, every second and every move by the president Obasanjo ended up multiplying our pain, thereby worsening our economic and social situations.

This sadistic attitude of the president towards the Nigerian masses is so alarming and unquantifiable. With all our national assets been sold to few cliques directly as in the case of BCC, SAVANAH SUGAR, OSHOGBO ROLLING MILLS and indirectly through TRANSCORP with no corresponding infrastructural benefit accruing to it, the Nigerian masses have all the moral and legal rights to boycott whatever is branded Dangote.

It surprises many on-lookers that the president accepts to attend the official commissioning of the 60 room hostel built and donated to Bayero University, Kano by Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Eratus Akinboola Vice Chairman and CEO of the bank has nearly lost the confidence and patronage of our people over his decision to name the hostel after Aliko Dangote. Many customers of the bank (myself inclusive) were consoled to continue with the patronage because of some Directors of the bank and for the efficient services the bank is offering, most importantly the bank non partisanship. Should the management of the bank seek people’s opinion on the matter, the name of the president would not have been there. After all why can’t the president construct one and name it after whoever he so desires.

It is time to let the president know that the good people of Kura local government are daily yearning for investment in wheat irrigation and production at least for the local flour millers to have ready made raw materials. Why then Nigerian millers invest in the production and/or purchase of highly gingered cassava with no local and international prospects. Similarly, many young students in Alfindiki and Koki quarters are searching for a scholarship foundation similar to what Dr. Adenuga establishes in his home town to help them finance their education.

Just last week, Dangote textile workers in Kano demonstrated over the non payment of their eight months salaries and other terminal benefits, similarly of about 3000 staff (mostly northerners) recently sacked by Dangote group, non has receive his terminal benefit. Our hope and prayers are that it is not their money that was sunk in the tenure elongation project (Third Term) to bribe the National Assembly members.

Though this letter as mentioned earlier is not an advisory one, however, It is pertinent to suggest to the president that it is time for the president to embark on some social responsibility projects especially in the area of prison renovation, it may sound strange, but it is such a humble advice, especially that we are writing and projecting post Obasanjo Nigeria, where proper placement of individuals and corporate organization is forecasted using present situation in the country.

Recent patriotic move by some section of our law makers under the auspices of 2007 Movement led by Senator Uche Chukwumeriji and Senator Saidu Dansadau have confirmed our belief and rose our hope about what may likely to happen after the departure of Mr. Obasanjo come May, 2007. The Newspaper advertorial sponsored by 2007 Movement on the boycott of some products was not specific enough. Using the GSM numbers provided in the advert, I suggested the use of electronic media (Radio & TV) for the campaign; this at least can allow Nigerian to recognize other Dangote products such as flour, Danvita, Pasta, Dansa juice, Salt in addition to the cement. The use of electronic media can also suggest other alternative products to our teeming masses whose continues patronage of such poisonous (Dangote) products is continuing to endanger their survival and economic well being. De-marketing of Dangote products at group or individual level is patriotic duty which all patriotic citizens of this country must to undertake vehemently in order to wipe out all that remain of the Third Term Project.

It is also important to add and call on all progressive governors and State Houses of Assemblies to join hands with other patriotic element in the country to place sales embargo and ban all those products in their respective states. Traditional rulers and religious leader should also stand up and be counted in this struggle for the emancipation of their people from these unethical individual and corporate personalities who are all out to ensure that we perpetually remain in abject poverty and despair.

Before concluding, it is important to pray for the soul of some notable personalities in Kano, whose Contributions to the course of Islam and economic development of our beloved state cannot be over emphasized.

I want to pray for the soul of Late Alhaji Sunusi Alhassan Dantata (of blessed memory) for his contribution to Islam especially in the area of mosques construction, Islamic education (establishment of both Islamiyya and western schools) and his immense contribution to the economic development of our state. I have no iota of doubt Chairman as commonly referred would not have donated N50 million to the mosques rehabilitation and N200 million to the dubious presidential library. Allah ya jikan chairman!

Next on my prayer list is the late Alhaji Muhammadu Dangote (of blessed memory). A merchant, philanthropist and a progressive politician, Alhaji would not have voted for tazarce should the matter came up while he was a member of the Federal Parliament. Alhaji’s contribution in our political struggle in Lagos was immeasurable, something we cherish dearly and remain to always pray for his soul. Allah ya jikan Alhaji. A true representative of Kano people! We pray for the gentle souls of our departed fathers and leaders. The popular Hausa musician Late Alhaji Musa Dankwairo had this to say over our fallen heroes; Gaba ta wuce baya ai da saura; yanzu ku samo wasu kamar su………………

Let me conclude with special invitation to the president Dangote Group that as Third Term is killed and buried in shame, the entire oppressed masses of this country await your presidential candidature come 2007 as it is widely speculated. Sai mun hadu a akwatu ranar zabe!

I remain, Mr. President.