Aliko Dangote is someone who believes in Nigeria. He has admitted severally and proudly that Nigeria made his fortune. Although he is a self made billionaire, now rated the richest Black man on earth, and richest man or woman, black, white or Arab in Africa, he would not have achieved that feat without the environment that made it possible-Nigeria.
I remember when I met him in his office in Falomo,Lagos around 2014 or 2015 to invite him to invest in Agriculture in Edo state, he expressed absolute faith in Nigeria and declared that Nigeria would remain his ultimate investment base. He saw the problems of Nigeria as opportunities that could even been deftly exploited to create wealth.
“If you fly over our landscape”he told me, “you would see trees, palm trees and lush vegetation growing on top of the rocky formations, hills and mountains all over Nigeria.”
He was obviously referring to the massive arable land in Nigeria and the yet to be exploited opportunities and possibilities in Agro-business in Nigeria.Nigeria he told me is the best place on earth to invest and make money and he is a living proof of it. From the £600 gift from his uncle the famous Alhassan or is it Sanusi (?)Dantata, he has built a business empire which has not only dominated the Nigerian market, but has spread tentacles to various African countries “empowering Africans”.
Aliko has often said that he does not maintain or “own” homes abroad. He travels in his private jets frequently on business and returns home as quickly as possible. Aliko has grown to become a Nigerian brand, a Made in Nigeria wealth creation machine.
Aliko has become the Nigerian face no one can ignore. Now there is growing fear that Aliko may have given up on Nigeria. He has not said that much, but he has just given notice, and Nigerians should take note that Aliko now has serious doubts about Nigeria as his permanent investment base and a secured home for his wealth and his family. He does not believe anymore that Nigeria can “protect” his wealth in the long or short term.The signals have been there all along. When Aliko expressed his desire to buy Arsenal Football Club of England,I knew he wanted to spend moretime, perhaps in England, especially his weekends pursuing his other passions. With Nigeria on the Knife edge of insecurity as Islamic militants, sub-Saharan bandits, Fulani herdsmen and other pseudo jihadists laying siege to Nigeria, Aliko cannot be blamed for seeking self preservation. He may have realized that he is not the state although his net worth is almost half of Nigeria’s annual budget. Although he has tried to fill the gaps in state building he may have realized that there is so much he can do. He was quoted as saying recently that like his friends, Warren Buffet and Bill Gate, he would give away a large chunk of his wealth to charity(he has indeed given more already to charity than any other African in history).
History has clearly placed him in the class of Mansa Musa of ancient Mali but unlike the Malian Emperor who reveled in vanity, Aliko would be remembered more for building more industries in Africa than any other African in history.
While Mansa Musa’s wealth is remembered more at the realm of historical myth,Aliko is real.I believe he would continue on this historical path of creating wealth and opportunity for Nigerians and Africans in Africa.However,I am a bit worried that Aliko may have given up on Nigeria, perhaps he is worried about the future of Nigeria without saying so publicly. Here is what he reportedly said: “I’m opening a family office in New York City to invest 60% of my assets, in the United States over the next few years to PROTECT my family wealth in the LONG TERM”(emphasis mine). Sixty percent of his investment should be in the region of 8 billion(USD), almost a quarter of the Federal budget. That no bi moi moi . Has Aliko lost faith in Nigeria? Is there something he is seeing that we all are blind to? Can’t his family wealth, both in the long and short term be better secured or “protected” if reinvested in Nigeria, the nation that has made him and his wealth?
Is Aliko running away from us? I would advise Aliko to reconsider his plan. He should invest more in Nigeria, not less and spread out to Africa as he is already doing. He should encourage his friends in the Billionaire’s club both at home and abroad to invest in Nigeria. He should stand his ground even if it is against his“personal wish and desire”, (words of Olusegun Obasanjo). He should kukuma take the biggest prize possible in Nigeria: the presidency. Perhaps he could be that leader we have been waiting for. He should turn Nigeria into the preferred investment destination he has always been so proud of. Aliko can invest in rail lines, rail stocks, education, energy plants (preferably clean energy ), tourism, health care, ICT, aviation/aerospace (aircraft production etc), solid minerals, telecommunications etc.
Aliko should not abandon Nigeria.America is already great. Aliko should help to make Nigeria great. Aliko owe Nigeria a lot,least of which is a debt of gratitude. He should stay here for better or worse and pay the debt. Or he should step forward and be our next president. If he succeeds in making Nigeria great, then history would be kind to him and we Nigerians would owe him our eternal gratitude.
NB: Abdul Oroh is a former House of Representatives member, served as Commissioner for Information, and later, Agriculture in Edo State. A former Executive director of Civil Liberties Organization(CLO), lawyer and journalist, Oroh is a member of The New Diplomat’s Advisory Board.
