Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has denied endorsing Governor Godwin Obaseki for reelection in the September governorship election in Edo state.
The reaction came on the crest of report by an online medium that the phillantropist has endorsed the Edo helmsman for second term.
The phillantropist has insisted that he’s not a politician.
While reacting to the report, Anthony Chiejina, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Dangote Group, said the allegation that his boss endorsed Obaseki, was false.
He said the alleged statement alluded to Dangote, that he “shall continue to support his good and reliable friend, Mr. Godwin Obaseki known to have handled stocks and investment portfolios for Dangote Group”, was concocted by the sponsors of the report to achieve their evil purpose.
Chiejina said “Our attention has been drawn to an online publication titled “Edo Guber: Dangote endorses Godwin Obaseki for second tenure”, this is the first time that I have seen people publicly campaign for electoral office using the name of my boss and I have to stop it immediately so that others will not try it in future.
Dangote could not have made such statement, he said, because “The said interview allegedly granted by Aliko Dangote in Abuja is an outright falsehood, a malicious, irresponsible and mischievous act aimed at tarnishing my boss’s reputation.
“Aliko Dangote has not travelled out of Lagos since March 19, 2020. In fact, he has not crossed the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge since that date. His name and personality should not be drawn into any political campaign.”
The richest Blackman, he said is more focused on creating jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerians and therefore, would not dabble into partisan politics.
According to Chiejina “Aliko Dangote is an entrepreneur and business leader whose focus is on development, job creation and philanthropy. He has not endorsed anyone for electoral positions in Edo or any other state of Nigeria.
“We caution the public to ignore claims from any quarter that associate the Dangote name or brand with partisan politics”Dangote
