The days of vitriol and unmitigated warfare may have ended between Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabiu. The chairman, Dangote Group and chairman BUA Group, are no longer at each other’s throats.
They have resorted to affable measures in order to arrive at a truce over their long-drawn conflict of interests in respect of the lingering mining dispute.
Rabiu’s BUA Group, has applauded Dangote Cement’s statement to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) regarding their lingering mining dispute.
In a press release, BUA stressed:
“BUA International Limited, owners of BUA Cement, heartily welcomes the resolve by Dangote Cement Plc to await the outcome of the courts as published in their corporate disclosure on the Nigerian Stock Exchange website dated 20 December, 2017 and titled, “DANGOTE CEMENT – RESPONSE TO BUA ALLEGATIONS”.
“This is in line with what BUA has always insisted and we appreciate the decision to wait for ajudicial outcome rather than resorting to self-help and/or using influence and certain agencies of government in disrupting operations at some of BUA1s mining areascovered by ML18912 and ML18913 in Obu, Okpella, Edo State.
“With respect to the statement by the Ministry of Mines published in Punch Newspapers of December 8, 2017 and alluded to by Dangote Cement Pie in its statement, BUA wishes to state that we have responded to the ministry through our lawyers and via other media. BUA remains resolute and unequivocal about its stand that ‘Status Quo be preserved’ as instructed by the Federal High Court sitting in Benin in Suit No. FHC/B/CS/7/2016 BUA International Limited & BUA Cement vs. Hon. Minister of Mines &Steel Development and Dangote Cement Pie.
“For the purpose of clarity, this means that BUA remains in possession of the Mining Areas covered by Mining Leases 18912 and 18913 in Obu, Okpella, Edo State and will continue to exercise its rights to operate those mines in line with the dictates of the courts. If anyone or any stakeholder (especially the Ministry) remains in doubt as to what ‘Status Quo• means in this case, they are free to write to the courts for an interpretation.
“BUA also affirms that it fully intends to abide by the outcomes of the judicial process as provided by the laws and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“BUA also hopes that with the statement by Dangote Cement Pie, this will put an end to the continued cycle of harassment or clandestine moves by certain stakeholders to usurp the powers of the courts and disrupt operations at our site in a clear disregard of existing court directives. BUA therefore enjoins and urges allstakeholders involved – not limited to the Edo State Government, the Ministry of Mines and Steel and other parties – to also await the outcome of the judicial process in the interest of a competitive business climate governed by the rule of law in Nigeria.
Further details on this matter will be published as appropriate.”
Without doubt both men display dynamic enterprise and the lush and tensile strength of business giants and leaders of men; despite their differences, they understand that their lingering impasse could wreak untold havoc on the economy and jeopardise the revitalisation drive of the incumbent administration. Hence their decision to bury the hatchet at least for a while.
