IBADAN/Nigeria: An Ibadan-based group, the O’Odua Integrity Network (OIN), has called on Alhaji Aliko Dangote to stop allegedly fueling protests and insurrection in Nigeria. In a press statement signed by Chief Adewale Adeosun (President) and Mr. Ige Kilanko (Secretary), the group appealed to Dangote to cease his “unrelenting attacks and incitement” against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
“It’s crass arrogance to think he can place himself above an elected government,” the statement read. The group condemned Dangote’s alleged actions, deeming them “unbecoming” and unacceptable to the Yoruba people.
“If there is any man that has appropriated everything like spoils of war from Nigeria, it is Aliko Dangote,” the statement continued. “Nigeria has been very fair to Aliko Dangote—he reaped bountifully while other citizens adjusted their belts. What else does Dangote want? Probably carry the nation on his head and walk away with it as private property.”
OIN accused Dangote of profiting immensely from Nigeria, sometimes at the expense of other manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and the public. They claimed that Dangote is behind the incitement of Nigerians against Tinubu’s administration and labeled him “the schemer behind the call to protests and riots.”
“Dangote cannot, with a pretentious innocent face and soft mien, mask his diabolical intents,” the group asserted. “We won’t watch like helpless widows while he mobilizes to bring down the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. His actions so far are a threat to national security and stability.”
The group also alleged that Dangote, alongside other “caliphate antagonists” and “devious forces,” worked tirelessly against Tinubu in the 2023 general elections. They claimed that the current clandestine acts of sabotage are a continuation of the efforts to frustrate Tinubu’s government after failing to defeat him at the polls.
“The relentless antagonism, pursuit of power, and vendetta will only lead to chaos and destruction if pushed any further. A word is enough for the wise—no man has a monopoly on destructive tendencies,” the statement warned.
OIN further accused Dangote and other northern figures of planning protests across the country to destabilize the government. “However, Nigeria does not belong to a set of people, nor are some citizens second class to others,” they added.
The statement highlighted President Tinubu’s support for General Muhammadu Buhari during his eight-year presidency, emphasizing that “the north cannot in perpetuity impose itself on the rest of Nigerians.”
They also mentioned the involvement of the Executive Vice President of the NNPCL with Dangote in attempts to unseat Engineer Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, suggesting a larger plot to undermine the federal government.
The OIN concluded by urging Dangote to reconsider his actions and allow Tinubu and Kyari to serve their terms without interference. “We will not stand idly by while hooligans and Dangote’s mischievous collaborators attempt to destroy the already delicate fabric of our nation.”
The group called for unity and stability, asking all Nigerians to work towards dialogue, peace, and development. “Nigeria deserves stability, progress, and development, not fear, chaos, and destruction,” the statement emphasized. “If Dangote insists and continues on his treacherous path, the consequences will be dire and unpalatable for everyone.”
The appeal ended with a call for national interest to be placed above personal vendettas and ambitions. “The fate of Nigeria is in our hands. We must not falter, else everything shall be lost.”
