Ernest Osogbue.
That Aliko Dangote is embarking on an economic revolution in Africa, is not in doubt, a look at his business portfolio across the continent in recent times, lends credence to this fact. A few years ago, the president of the Dangote Group was more interested in maintaining his status as the richest man in Africa, but of recent, from observations, Dangote’s priorities have shifted. You could see it in his gait, you could see it in his carriage, and of course, you can hear it in his voice.
For many years, Africa has been yearning for a revolutionary leader, and the expectation, amongst citizens, was that such a leader would come strapping his rifle over his shoulder, or brandishing his sabre, and lead the people onto the battlefield chanting songs of liberation. Unknown to many, the venue of the modern day warfare has shifted from the physical battlefront to the economic battlefield. A few years ago, Aliko Dangote had expressed an interest in acquiring Arsenal football club of England. There was a backlash at home, from those who believed in the adage that charity begins at home. According to them, the Nigerian Premier Football League, was a veritable ground for Dangote to kickstart his investment drive in sports, if he was that much interested in sports development.
In his characteristic manner, Dangote had remained silent in the face of those criticisms. Since the takeoff of the Dangote refineries in Lekki, Lagos, however, it has become obvious that Dangote is no longer the man he was before the refinery came on stream. It’s as if a transformation of the man had taken place, between the construction of the refinery and its coming on stream. While profit making may have triggered the idea of the refinery, since the commencement of operations, however, Dangote’s priorities seems to have shifted to not just profit making, but to impacting his environment. This is my personal observation.
Listening to Alhaji Dangote speak these days, the resonance of his voice, and the impact of his words, ring completely differently from the way they sounded a few years ago. Dangote seems a bit more sure footed, he seems to have found his place, and has suddenly realized his essence in a complex world of color equation, and particularly in the African context. Don’t misunderstand me, Dangote has been a rich man for a very long time, and I have no doubt that he has always had a desire in mind. One thing I have realized about life though, is that change is constant. Aliko Dangote has changed, and the change that I see is a very welcome one.
The Aliko Dangote of old, is the one that was interested in buying Arsenal, and investing money in an already developed British economy. The Aliko Dangote of today, is the champion of African economic independence. How this transition came about is a mystery in itself, but I must say that the criticisms leveled at the businessman over his Arsenal interest could have played a part. Also, I suspect that Aliko Dangote, must have experienced an epiphany of sorts, on the plight of the black continent. As the richest African, and the richest black man in the world, it must have been brought home to him in recent times, that being the richest man in Africa means nothing, when fellow Africans are dying daily on the Mediterranean Sea, in search of greener pastures in Europe.
As of today, Dangote has presence in about 17 African countries, making investments, creating jobs, lifting families out of poverty, and giving hope to thousands for a better tomorrow. Ordinarily, these are what governments should be doing, but there’s a position you arrive at in life, and you suddenly realize that while governments have their role, individuals of means within a society, equally have theirs. We all need to contribute our share depending on our abilities. Dangote’s contemporaries in Europe, may have made a snide remark at him, about the condition of his fellow Africans, or someone may have said something somewhere, or done something, but whatever it was that happened to Aliko Dangote, to bring about this his new vision of putting the development of Africa first, we must appreciate him for taking the initiative.
It has become obvious for now, that Dangote will not be discussing the Arsenal takeover, at least, not in the near future. Acquiring Arsenal as things stand, would only emphasize the inferiority complex of Africans, and the black man. Europe is already developed, Africa is where investments and job creation is needed. Taking the hard earned money from Africa to oil the wheels of an already efficient European system, would be nothing but an egocentric economic venture. After all, it is the same Europeans who came to Africa as slave merchants and colonialists, to cart away African produce to develop their industries, and enslaved our able bodied men for labor in their plantations without compensation. It is wonderful to note that Dangote understands that it is no longer about political independence, what Africa needs now more than ever is economic independence. Watching Dangote discuss the proposed refinery to be jointly owned by Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan, which is to be located at the Tanzanian port of Tanga, I felt very proud. Crude from Kenya, South Sudan, the DRC, and Uganda, would be refined at the facility, and further reduce African dependence on Europe for refined petroleum products. Sitting sandwiched between President Ruto of Kenya, and President Museveni of Uganda, Dangote looked self assured, as he promised that with the commitment of the leaders in the East African region, the refinery could come on stream in as soon as five years.
Most Nigerians may complain about the cost of petroleum products since the removal of fuel subsidy, but one thing we cannot deny, is the absence of long queues at filling stations. Even with the trouble in the Middle East, fuel supply in Nigeria has remained largely efficient, all thanks to the Dangote refinery. Most people have forgotten how we used to spend hours, and sometimes, days at filling stations just to buy fuel with our own monies. The Nigerian government for many years failed to fix the publicly owned refineries, leaving citizens at the mercy of criminals pretending to be businessman importing fuel. A friend once told me the story of how he slept overnight at a filling station, and at about noon the following day, with only two cars between him, and the fuel pump, the filling station manager had suddenly announced that their fuel supply had been exhausted. His frustration knew no bounds, all his efforts, his staying awake all night, away from his family, had came to nought. Despite his entreaties to the station manager, he had left the filling station in frustration and without fuel. Such incidents no longer occur.
It is important therefore, that we all begin to appreciate Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as a national asset. It is not enough to be wealthy, that wealth must be used to make an impact in the lives of others for it to become valuable. While charitable ventures are good, and must be appreciated, the greatest impact a man could make however, is in planting seeds that will continue to germinate and yield, long after his time. As a friend recently said; while we chase immortality through bloodlines, we must realize that bloodlines and family, fade to insignificance with time. True immortality lies not in bloodlines, but in ideas which survive long after bloodlines have faded. We must therefore, appreciate Aliko Dangote for kickstarting the African economic revolution, which is the only way to ensure the economic independence of Africa in the very near future.
