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Obasanjo To Dangote: You Are My Boss And Will Continue To Be My Boss
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has described Aliko Dangote as his “boss”, crediting the businessman’s industrial achievements to the policies and encouragement provided by his administration.
Obasanjo said this while speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Dangote East Africa Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, where he recalled his recent visit to the Dangote refinery and the businessman’s acknowledgement of the role he played in his transition from cement importation to production.
He said, “About two months ago, three months ago, I visited the refinery which you visited last week. And I just couldn’t stop being surprised what Aliko did. But then Aliko embarrassed me.”
According to Obasanjo, Dangote had gathered his workers during the visit and publicly attributed part of his success in cement production and the eventual development of his refinery to the policies and encouragement of the former president.
He said, “He got all his workers together in that refinery and said, without telling me, and there, said, all of you working here, all of you, the man you have to thank is this man, that’s me. I didn’t have anything to do with his refinery or what it is. He said, without this man, I would not have been in cement production.
“And it is the cement production that provided the encouragement, the inspiration for the refinery. So, thank you. They all shouted and thanked me.”
Obasanjo said Dangote had expanded the opportunities created by his administration beyond Nigeria, particularly through cement production across Africa, and was now replicating the model in the petroleum refining sector.
“But as Aliko said to you, I always call him my boss. Because if Aliko and others like him, there’s Wally here. Wally, where are you? Get up, let them see you,” he said.
The former president added that the industrial developments being celebrated would not have been possible without entrepreneurs taking advantage of policies introduced during his administration.
“If they haven’t taken advantage of the policies that my administration put in place, then the story that we are celebrating today. And when I called Aliko and he came, I was concerned about Nigeria. Self-sufficiency in cement for Nigeria.”
Obasanjo said Dangote subsequently took the cement industry beyond Nigeria and was now pursuing a similar path with the refinery.
“Aliko took it beyond Nigeria and took it to other parts of Africa. And he’s now doing the same in the refinery. Aliko, may you never be tired.
“May God continue to expand your coast. And you are my boss. You will continue to be my boss.”
The Lamu project, which Dangote Group says is designed to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, is intended to expand refining capacity in East Africa and deepen regional industrial integration.
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