Dangote Refinery Should Be National Pride, Not Vilified – APC Chieftain Warns

 

A former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in South Africa, Bola Babarinde has issued a warning to the government of President Bola Tinubu.

 

He warned them not to vilify Dangote Refinery as it should be a national pride.

 

Babarinde in a statement on Friday, said critics of the refinery should focus on constructive solutions rather than negative publicity.

 

He noted that the refinery represented a significant stride towards self-sufficiency in the petroleum industry.

 

According to him, unlike those who siphoned the nation’s wealth and stashed it abroad, Alhaji Aliko Dangote reinvested in Nigeria, creating infrastructure and job opportunities for Nigerians.

 

Babarinde noted that Dangote throughout his career had maintained a strategic relationship with successive governments in the country.

 

He said critics, however, argued that his close ties with political powers had afforded him undue advantages, including favourable policies and contracts.

 

The APC chieftain said that Dangote supporters, however, saw in him a savvy businessman, who understood the importance of aligning with the government to foster national development.

 

“As the nation seeks a path to prosperity, figures like Dangote play a crucial role, albeit one that requires careful balancing of national interests and individual enterprise,” he said.