The paramount ruler of Okpella, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella Kingdom,
Alhaji Yesufu Dirisu has read the riot act to the what he termed as
inciting activities of agents of Bua Cement in the community warning that
his palace would no longer tolerate any group using pseudo names to dent
the integrity of his palace and his people
Alhaji Dirisu, who was receiving in audience some concerned stakeholders
in his palace at the weekend spoke against the background of reports said
to have been sponsored by the management of Bua Cement to the effect that
the people of the community are spoiling for a show a down with Dangote
Cement over its decision to come to the community to explore limestone for
cement production purposes in the area.
Contrary to reports in a section of the media that there was tension in
the community over alleged planned attacks by unnamed persons, our
correspondent who visited the sleepy community of Okpella observed that
the entire community was calm and no sign of any unease.
The Traditional ruler said emphatically, “it’s all lies, nobody has said
that Dangote should not come to Okpella to do business and do exploration.
Some people for their selfish interest have been publishing falsehood
saying Okpella community does not want Dangote.
“I am the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella kingdom, I am speaking on behalf of the
Chiefs, elders and youths of this community, we have no issue with Dangote
Cement. I have said it times without number, we want Dangote to come and
do business here in Okpella. When every community, state and even nations
are looking for investors, why should we ask Dangote not to come to our
community?
“Aren’t we even lucky that he has seen something that is bringing him
here? We want development for our people and the community. Some people
somewhere just sat under a tree and conjured a report to the effect that
we are calling Dangote Cement people murderer and kidnappers. Never! We
never said so. That is why the Okpella Youth Initiative has challenged the
faceless forum and retract that publication. We really mean it if they
don’t within 14 days we take the next necessary action.”
Alhaji Dirisu said it was to clear the air that he had written a letter
personally inviting and permitting Dangote to come and start exploration.
If Bua has a cement factory, that does not mean another company should not
prospect for mineral in our land. As it is now, it is Dangote that is
delaying, we are fully behind him. He has 101 per cent support from all of
us in Okpella.
“Let it be on record that there is no bad blood between Okpella and
Dangote. He is a friend of our people, he is my friend, he is our
governor’s friend. We love him, he has nothing to fear. We want him to
hasten things. Anything that can bring development is what we stand for.
And Dangote cement is one of the things that can bring development and
economic prosperity to our people and community”, Okuokpellagbe declared.
Speaking later, one of the Youth Leaders, John Umoru said there was no
security threat anywhere within the Community pointing out that the youths
also stand for peace. “We the Okpella youths, we love peace and we like to
do anything that will bring peace. It is in the atmosphere of peace that
businesses can also thrive. We need jobs, we need economic empowerment.”
Conducting our Correspondent round the Community, the Youth leader pointed
out that they were very weary of havoc I wrought elsewhere due to similar
incitement of the residents against their leaders and would rather work
for peace and allow genuine investors come to their area.
Said he, “What we hear Dangote is doing in Obajana, Ibese, Gboko and the
rest of Africa, we want him to come and do it here in Okpella. We can’t
ask a big investor like Dangote not to come here, we are too enlightened
to be involved in such a frivolity.
This development is against the background of several sponsored reports in
the newspaper to the effect that the people of the community are spoiling
for a showdown against Dangote Cement over plans by the Company to go into
mining and production of Cement in the area.
The Okuokpellagbe urged Chairman of Dangote Cement PLC, Alhaji Aliko
Dangote to disregard such ugly reports and make haste to help Okpella
community by investing there just as he has done in other places in
Nigeria and Africa.