By Mogaji Wole Arisekola
Is it just me, or do you also wonder why politicians do what they do? Do you think they are as normal as the rest of us? Their choices, desperation, and the things they say and do, the choice of the people they appointed to serve in their government when they win elections always leave me wondering if I could ever be a politician. Strange thought, right? Yeah.
I’m not surprised by the outburst of the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, about his opinion on the Dangote refinery.
For those who don’t know Engineer Ahmed, he has a strong commercial and trading background with over 34 years of experience in senior positions at NNPC. He has held roles such as Senior Crude Oil Trader at Duke Oil Incorporated, Manager of Crude Oil Export Programming and Nominations, Executive Director of Commercial at the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Managing Director of NiDAS Marine Limited, and more. He retired but was brought back from retirement and is now one of the richest public servants in Nigeria, wealthier than many successful businessmen in the country.
When Farouk speaks, he does so with the authority of a business-savvy civil servant in Nigeria. He represents some powerful Northern cabal, doing their bidding. These people control Nigeria, deciding who succeeds financially and politically.
From my investigation, I think Aliko Dangote made a political misstep in the last presidential election. The powers that be are ready to teach him a lesson. Dangote, once part of this elite group controlling Nigeria’s economy and politics, reportedly repaid 70% of his refinery loan to commercial banks, according to a former Central Bank governor. Additionally, the Nigerian government claimed to have invested over a billion dollars in the Dangote refinery for a 20% stake, a move celebrated by the previous administration. However, Dangote recently debunked this, saying the $1 billion borrowed from China was lost in transit, revealing a deception.
So, when Engineer Farouk says we can’t rely on one refinery for the nation’s needs and criticizes Dangote’s request to stop importing petroleum products, he’s highlighting the risks of monopoly and questioning the refinery’s quality. He mentioned that the sulphur content of Dangote’s product is inferior to imported quality.
I sense something is amiss. The business of secret deals has been exposed. If Dangote and his adversaries don’t resolve their issues, he might soon face the EFCC. More damaging revelations are likely. The battle began when Dangote exposed the NNPC’s 20% investment as a fraud. Mele Kyari, the NNPC GMD, retaliated by criticizing Dangote’s refinery.
This is how desperate individuals react when caught. The elite will continue to thrive while the masses suffer, manipulated by promises of prosperity that never materialize. These corrupt officials and businessmen are the major investors in our future. This risky business will continue until something changes.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.
