By Pascal Oparada
The race for who becomes Nigeria’s next president is getting hotter and more intriguing. Politicians across the spectrums are employing every strategy to emerge victors.
One of such moves is the appointment on Friday of Nigerian billionaires, Aliko Dangote, and Femi Otedola into the presidential campaign council of President Muhmmadu Buhari.
Dangote is Africa’s richest man.
As of March 2018, he had an estimated net worth of $14.1 billion. Dangote is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 100th-richest person in the world and the richest in Africa and peaked on the list as the 23rd-richest person in the world in 2014.
The billionaire businessman has his hands in several ventures including Cement, Sugar refinery and oil refinery which many say would be ready in 2019.
In March 2009, Otedola became the second Nigerian after Aliko Dangote to appear on the Forbes list of dollar-denominated billionaires, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.
His biggest and known is an investment is a majority shareholder in Forte oil, which he recently announced he was divesting from in the first quarter of 2019 to go into refining oil.
He recently sought to vie for the office of the governor of Lagos State on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
While the move has been hailed as deft by some, others believe that Buhari is further empowering a few oligarchs who would hijack his government should he win the February poll.
EndSars campaigner and human rights activist, Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, said the appointments reek of suspicion because, according to him, these same people would hold the government to a ransom, should Buhari win in February.
“While these men grease, oil and lubricate their way further into the system after enjoying monopolistic advantages and dollar grants, the illegal earnings will be put to proper use ensure the status remains. I hope serving Minister drafted will resign before campaigning,” Awosanya said via his Twitter handle.
“What they are doing with Femi Otedola and Dangote now was what they punished the MD of SkyBank for. His only crime was funding the election of an admin they loathe. Hypocrisy and identity politics of hate will implode this cult. Mark my words,” he said.
Others say despite palpable failure on the part of Buhari’s government, the duo of Dangote and Otedola still agreed to serve in his council.
Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani cautioned Dangote to be careful with the broom – an allusion to the symbol of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Dear Bro Aliko, don’t use Broom to reinforce your silos, don’t use Broom as your plasterboard; don’t use Broom to mix your concrete, maintain the use of your machine concrete mixer,” Sani said.
But others believe the inclusion of the billionaires would boost and give impetus to the Buhari campaign, which they say was faltering after Atiku Abubakar emerged as the presidential candidate of PDP.
The council would be co-chaired by president Buhari and former governor of Lagos State and national leader of APC, Bola Tinubu.
Others in the council are
Vice President Osinbajo, National Chairman of APC, Oshiomhole. It also has Chibuike Amaechi as Director General and Deputy DGs as Mamora and Bulama while directors include Ribadu, Keyamo, Wale Edun, Tunde Fashola, Hadiza Bala Usman.
