Dangote
*
YCM gives 14-day ultimatum over MOU
Dangote Cement Ibese,
a company owned by africa’s richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote located in Ibese
Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have been issued a 14- day
ultimatum by its host community to provide a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU. YCM
promised to sabotage the operation of the company, if it fails to meet up with
their demands within the next 14 days, counting from 31st May, 2016.
Rising from an
enlarged meeting at the weekend by representatives of the host communities
under the aegis of Yewa Connecting Minds an umbrella that comprises both youths
and elders in liberation movement of Yewaland as a whole, asking Dangote to implement
the agreements entered into with the YCM to honour the accord with its host
communities, also slamming the company for not living up to its Corporate
Social Responsibility.
“It is sad enough
that several accidents occurred across Yewaland are through the operation of
Dangote Cement. Reportedly, more than
90% of accidents in Yewa axis are caused by drivers of Dangote who violate
traffic rules on the roads already damaged by Dangote Trucks.
It is against this
background that the inhabitants of Yewaland felt so much concerned the
seemingly nonchalant attitude of Dangote
Cement Plc. To their wellbeing and recklessness of her Drivers which had
resulted in the untimely death of over two thousand indigenes within the short
period of existence of Dangote Cement Plc. in Yewaland; with many dependants of
the deceased persons not being compensated at all by Dangote Cement Plc.
In a statement issued
by Yewa Connecting Minds, signed by its coordinator, Prince Ekunola Gbenga
Abrhama "PEGA", threatened to impede the smooth operations of the
company in its locality if a proper agreement/ Memorandum of Understanding,
MoU, was not reached with host communities in respect of its operations.
The community listed
the areas where the company failed them:
"Refusal of Dangote
to checkmate the recklessness of the truck drivers of its company, resulting in
the death of over two thousand indigenes of Yewaland within the short period of
the Company; destruction of roads across Yewaland by Dangote trucks; daily suffering of pollution- resulting from
the activities of the Company with concomitant hazards of their health as well
as potential full scarcity due to several damage to farm produce; deforestation
and loss of vegetation cover; Potential displacement, loss of jobs and increase
in crime wave due to unemployment and lack of jobs security.
OUR DEMANDS are:
1. Drawing up and execution of an acceptable
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Company and her host Communities
on the Corporate Social Responsibilities of Dangote Cement Plc. towards her
host Communities in Yewaland and her inhabitants.
2. Advancement or growth programmes for
Artisans, Market Women and Small Scale Business Owners.
3. Employment of Yewa Youths in Dangote
Cement Plc.
4. Construction of Primary Health Centres in
the towns and villages in Yewaland as well as up-grading of the General
Hospital, Ilaro.
5. Reconstruction of Papalanto/Ilaro Road,
Owode Yewa/Ilaro Road, Papalanto/Sagamu Road in conjuction with Federal
Government on the Public Private Partnership arrangement, or on the Tax
concession basis, or better still on Toll Collecting arrangement.
6. Introduction of Trailer parks to ease the
illegal parking of trailers on the road sides.
7. Continued usage of the Dangote Cement Plc.
Ilaro Depot and introduction of other Depots at the various headquarters of
Local Governments in Ogun West.
"PEGA"
therefore said; the ultimatum became necessary following the company’s breach
of trust reposed on them and agreement on communiqué submitted to the company
during the peace talk with us in March, which resulted in neglect,
marginalisation, violation of the rights and privileges of the community in all
ramifications.
According to them,
the Dangote Cement refused to respond to us since we suspended our protest
against them in March for dialogue. They said that such an action could be
construed as Dangote underrating its host community regarding what they could
do.
In March youths and
women moved to shut down Dangote’s operations in the area if not for the swift
intervention of the community leaders, who pleaded with us to exercise more
patience.
YCM maintained that
other communities where Dangote facilities are located- like Obajana and
Port-Harcourt are being catered for in terms of amenities, and expressed dismay
why the Dangote Cement was playing ‘’a
hide and seek game’’ & "divide
and rule method" with Yewa communities.
The YCM advised
Dangote to deal with them directly without involving a mediator or the third
party on the issue.
“We are not against
the emergency of Dangote Cement in our communities but vehemently reject the
present situation where your company now operates with a manipulated communiqué
in place of MoU to the detriment of our collective interest,” Ekunola stated.
According to YCM, we
have discovered the presence of fulani headsmen near Dangote Cement in Ibese where
they are been stationed by Dangote management in readiness for our planned
protest against the company, but let me reassure you, we are battle ready to
confront any Fulani herdsman that make attempt to stop our liberation match.
The Community
therefore agreed to hand a 14-day ultimatum to the company to enable it
implement the agreement in our communiqué submitted to them during our peace
talk, failure of which they will shut down Dangote’s activities pending the
resolution of the matter.
Signed
Prince Ekunola Gbenga
Abraham "PEGA"
Coordinator YCM.
08035155836
Please find below
Communiqué which we submitted to the management of Dangote in March when they
appealed to us not to disrupt their operation.
On that day, we gave
Dangote 21-day to implement our demands, they appeal to us to give them till
end of May....
But uptil now,
nothing has been done.
Please, help us tell
the world please, we have no money, but we believe in media..
Thanks and God bless
you sir.
DANGOTE CEMENT IN YEWALAND - A CURSE OR
BLESSING?
BEING THE TEXT OF PRESENTATION MADE BY THE ‘YEWA CONNECTING
MINDS’ AT A ROUND TABLE MEETING WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF DANGOTE CEMENT PLC IBESE
ON THURSDAY 17TH MARCH 2016 AT IBESE
CEMENT PLANT
PROTOCOL:
INTRODUCTION
Businesses
thrive within Communities; as such business must take somewhat responsibility
for the well-being of their Communities and the people therein. Businesses must
also endevour to manage the direct and indirect consequences of their
activities. Comprehensively analyzed and critically reflected upon the
foregoing does not always have to be in terms of money as it could be packaged
in terms of opportunities for advancement and growth, emancipation or
operational enhancement. It is against this background that the inhabitants of
Yewaland felt so much concerned the seemingly nonchalant attitude
of Dangote Cement Plc. To their wellbeing and recklessness of her Drivers which
had resulted in the untimely death of over two thousand indigenes within the
short period of existence of Dangote Cement Plc. In Yewaland; with many
dependants of the deceased person persons not being compensated at all by
Dangote Cement Plc.
Instrument of action:
The Group is to assemble at least one million people- comprising
of Artisans, Okada Riders, Market Women, Students, Traditional Rulers and Civil
Servants among others, towards organizing a peaceful protest against the
un-wholesome activities of Dangote Cement Plc and an ineptitude towards the
plight of the inhabitants of her host Communities.
REASONS FOR A PEACEFUL PROTEST:
1. It has been reliably observed that till date
Dangote Cement, Ibese has failed, refused and/or neglected signing any
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with host Community on Corporate Social Responsibility
towards the inhabitants of her host Communities.
2. Recklessness of the truck drivers of Dangote
Cement Plc. Resulting in the death of over two thousand indigenes of Yewaland
within the short period of the Company existence.
3. Indigenes of the Communities are daily
suffering of pollution- resulting from the activities of the Company with
concomitant hazards to health as well as potential food scarcity due to severe
damage to farm produce.
4. Other Communities where Dangote facilities are
located- like Obajana, Gboko and Port-Harcourt are being catered for in terms
of amenities.
5. Deforestation and loss
of vegetation cover.
6. Potential displacement of Farmers occasioning
loss of jobs and increase in crime wave due to unemployment and lack of jobs
security.
7. Discrepancies in the employment of indigenes
of the host communities-under employment of Professionals.
8. Extension of plant’s electricity facilities to
the host communities.
9. Provision of Bursary/Scholarship Awards to
Students of the host communities.
CALL BY
THE MANAGEMENT FOR A ROUND TABLE TALK:
Propelled by the
recent calls by the Management Dangote Cement Plc. For a round table talk on
the highlighted issues, coupled with the fact that members of this group are
ardent believers in the common saying that it is better to “Jawjaw than to
Warwar”; Members have unanimously agreed to come to a round table with the
Management of Dangote Cement Plc. in a bid to presenting the Group’s demands,
towards finding a lasting solution to a myriad of problems enumerated above.
OUR DEMANDS:-
1. Drawing up and execution of an acceptable
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Company and her host Communities
on the Corporate Social Responsibilities of Dangote Cement Plc. towards her
host Communities in Yewaland and her inhabitants.
2. Advancement or growth
programmes for Artisans, Market Women and Small Scale Business Owners.
3. Employment of Yewa Youths in
Dangote Cement Plc.
4. Construction of Primary
Health Centres in the towns and villages in Yewaland as well as up-grading of
the General Hospital, Ilaro.
5. Reconstruction of Papalanto-Ilaro-Obele Road,
Ibese/ Ita Oshin (Old Abeokuta Road), Owode Yewa/Ilaro Road, Papalanto/Sagamu
Road in conjuction with Federal Government on the Public Private Partnership
arrangement.
6. Introduction of Trailer parks
to ease the illegal parking of trailers on the road sides.
7. Continued usage of the
Dangote Cement Plc. Ilaro Depot and introduction of other Depots at the various
headquarters of Local Governments in Ogun West.
8. Dangote Cement Plc. must actively contribute
and participate in the annual Yewa Festival (a Festival that involve all
traditional Rulers, Youths, Women, Artisans and Professinals in Yewaland).
9. Safety Liaison Officer i.e Dangote Officers,
FRSC, TRACE and assigned Community Safety Team.
……………………………………….
Barr. Rotimi Akintunde Esq.
Cc: President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
President of the Senate
Speaker Federal House of
Representatives
Governor, Ogun State
Speaker Ogun State House of Assembly
Director DSS
Inspector General of Police
Chairman Yewa South Local Government
Chairman Yewa North Local Government
The Paramount Ruler of Yewa land
All Obas in Yewa Land
All Media Houses
WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
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