Sanwo-Olu Never Said Dangote Was Poor When He Came To Lagos – Aide

Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday said his principal’s statement on Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote was being twisted.

The governor while speaking at the Commissioning of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos on Monday had said Dangote came to Lagos with nothing about 45 years ago, but he is now Africa’s richest man.

“The first story is about a young Nigerian 45 years ago and you see the coincidence in the story. 45 years ago, who came to Lagos, all the way from another mega-city, Kano, who saw the prosperity, the diversity of our country, who came with nothing but in 45 years has built the biggest empire in the world for Africa” Sanwo-Olu had said.

However, Sanwo-Olu’s remarks was met with criticism by some Nigerians who claimed Dangote was not poor but was financially empowered by his uncle, Aminu Dantata when he started his business in Lagos.

Speaking with worldviewafrica.com, Akosile said the governor did not by any way infer that Dangote was a poor man who had practically nothing when he came to Lagos 45 years ago.

” The governor did not by any means claim that Dangote was a pauper when he came to Lagos 45 years ago. Far from it. The reality is that Aliko Dangote was not this wealthy 45 years ago. He was not Africa’s richest man 45 years ago”.

“What the governor meant was that Dangote tapped into the opportunities he saw in Lagos state, the Centre of Excellence and today, it is a success story as he had transformed from a young businessman into Africa’s richest man, creating jobs for a lot of people”.

” Rather than find faults in the Governor’s remarks, people should see the positives in it, that with perseverance and determination, ordinary Nigerian can rise to achieve their dreams”.

“He is also saying Lagos state is a home of prosperity for all irrespective of your tribal, cultural, political or religious background”.