Bayelsa monarch: Dangote refinery is a revolution we should sustain, not damage

Bubaraye Dakolo, king of Ekpetiama Kingdom and chairman of the Bayelsa Rulers Council, says the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is a revolution that should be sustained by Nigerians.

Dakolo spoke during a tour of the Dangote refinery on Friday.

“I’m overwhelmed by what I’m seeing here,” he said.

“Seeing this marvel here, it’s a huge investment. I know what is already going on in this place, it’s a revolution, which we have to try to sustain.

“We shouldn’t use insufficient information or ignorance to damage what is going to make us happier and better.”

To promote cooperation between the management and unions, Dakolo emphasised the importance of discussion and dialogue.

“Let the union people come with their own cards on the table, and let the other group, the Dangote group or whatever group also come with their cards on the table, and you look at it,” Dakolo said.

“The fact is that the objective should be the Nigerian people, it is not just about you and me, but it’s about everyone else.

“You don’t want to say, you don’t want to say, if they no gree, make we go block the road, make we go bomb the place. No! You should discuss and you should be honest.”

The king also advocated fairness and objectivity in discussions, urging negotiators to consider valid points and not reject them simply for the sake of opposition.

In September, Dangote refinery said it sacked only “small number of workers,” however, PENGASSAN claimed over 800 employees were dismissed due to union dispute with the refinery.

Dangote refinery clarified that the workers were sacked to protect the refiner from acts of sabotage.

On September 28, PENGASSAN commenced a nationwide strike, to ptotest the dismissal, but after the federal government’s intervention, the union called off the industrial action on October 1.

Also, Dangote Group agreed to redeploy the sacked workers to its other subsidiaries.

‘NIGER DELTA STANDS WITH DANGOTE’

Dakolo said the Niger Delta community has thrown its weight behind local manufacturing and distribution efforts of Aliko Dangote, the founder of Dangote refinery.

“We in the Niger Delta have a sense of fulfilment that, after years of not making the best of our natural resources, God has raised a man like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Dangote Refinery to end the distortions in the value chain of Nigeria’s oil and gas downstream industry, by making local refining of our resources a possibility,” he said.

“Let me be clear: The Niger Delta and Nigeria, in general, benefit and profit more when Nigeria’s oil and gas are locally refined and globally marketed.

“As such, we commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote and urge the federal, state, and local governments, the organised private sector, and most especially unions to cooperate with him as he refines locally.”

The king said the refinery’s policy of not waiting for the government but importing CNG vehicles to facilitate the national distribution of premium motor spirits (PMS), also known as petrol, is a very welcome development.

He further said the initiative is one that should not be frustrated by the selfishness of any individual or group.

“No individual or corporation has been as responsible for stabilising petrol prices as Alhaji Dangote and the Dangote Refinery in the last year. In doing that, they have caused succour to occur in society,” the king said.

Dakolo urged Nigerians to unite against the cabals that promote continued dependence on imported petrol, rather than opposing local production that could meet the nation’s needs.