Tasking Aliko Dangote

THE first and only time I exchanged pleasantries with Africa’s richest man, Alhaj
Aliko Dangote, GCON, was in 2002. In my capacity as the editor of The Post Express then I was invited to his house for an end-of year dinner with select editors. At the event, I saw a man who had no airs and intermingled freely with everyone. There was no security fussiness
right from the gate to the venue of the occasion. Once you identified yourself, access was unencumbered. There was so much to eat and drink.
But that is not the kernel. What engaged me was the man’s simplicity and interactive mien with one and all. If you came late or didn’t know him full well, you were unlikely to distinguish him because of his “journalistic appearance”!
Before this auspicious encounter, I had thought that there would be a security web around him and his home. Alas, there was no such characteristic about our host unlike his peers. As the business-like session informally began, Alhaji Dangote went round and shook hands with all of us amid banter in a therapeutic environ ment that had all the lush trappings of nature. There were no interviews or long speeches. The idea was to exclusively enjoy the evening and disperse within a reasonable time threshold.
The man’s princely generosity to us on our departure is not germane to this subject.
The second and last time I met Alhaji Dangote was early this year in Awka, Anambra State. As a result of the tight
schedule of the day’s programme there was no time for exchange for pleasantries. On this particular occasion, we were guests of the former governor of
Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who had invited us to his end-of-tenure stewardship
account rendition, just a few days to handing over to Chief Willie Obiano.
The colourful event was well attended with all the speakers pouring encomiums on the outgoing governor for transforming the state and unprecedentedly
leaving N75 billion in the state’s coffers at a time when blundering governors were borrowing and looting. By the way, it is on record that Mr. Obi never took one kobo loan throughout his exemplary regime. This, perhaps, explains why he was tight-fisted with public funds so much that even his personal
aides used to complain publicly! Alhaji Dangote, who was supposed to be on his way to Abuja, squeezed out time to attend the valedictory session in
Awka because of his belief in the track record of Okute. When he got up to speak extempore he said he was not surprised by the outstanding performance of his host. Dangote declared that Mr. Obi had profoundly demonstrated that politicians with entrepreneurial record of quintessence were most likely to run their states or other responsibilities far better than their mates without such managerial benefit. He said because Mr. Obi had distinguished himself as a businessman
before venturing into politics  it was easy for him to excel. Dangote, therefore, called for more opportunities
for people with such credible backgrounds to run state affairs—not charlatans without any pedigree foisted on the people and the predictable result is propaganda, benefactor witch-hunt, hooliganism, legacy of holistic retrogression, vanguard of bohemianism, governance mediocrity, manifest incompetency and incapacity, pugnacity, scandalous media patronage, overall leadership poverty, surrogacy, official banditry, state-sponsored
kidnapping and other shenanigans especially in parts of South East. After his laudatory remarks and outpouring
of emotion-laden testaments for Mr. Obi and the standing ovation that followed, Alhaji Dangote swiftly left en route to Abuja for a crucial
meeting towards the economic re-engineering of this country. A governor had confided in me that Alhaji Dangote is so passionately committed to national economic transformation that he hardly misses any presidential meeting to that effect. In fact, to dramatize Alhaji Dangote’s attachment to such revolutionary engagements, the governor said if Aso Rock calls for meetings a dozen times, Alhaji Dangote will attend 13 times!
Little wonder he became the first citizen from the private sector to receive the
highest national award with his recognition and conferment of the GCON by President Goodluck Jonathan. All Nigerians unanimously applauded the decision for such an honour. It was more than deserved considering his unparalleled contributions to the growth of our economy and his inimitable entrepreneurial ambassadorship. Now to the subject of this article: Over the years I have read in the newspapers about Alhaji Dangote’e philanthropy,
especially his interventions in people’s medical challenges. Indeed, spend his money, but, Alhaji, if you do
this, the beneficiaries’ prayers for you, the perceptive and reputational mileage, benefit and Allah’s reward to you will be so unimaginable that you will be embarrassed
by the attendant goodwill it will attract to your exponential philanthropy, personage and clan. Can anyone
imagine what interest that would accrue to N1 billion or even N500 million set
aside yearly for this project? And the number of abject lives it will touch and
the blessings on the Dangotes till eternity. It is unfortunate that in a blessed
country like Nigeria where government has abdicated its public healthcare responsibility
and other social contract obligations, people die because of their
inability to foot minimum health bills! Alhaji Dangote should think about this. If there is something to this effect in existence already, let it be effectively and efficiently communicated to the public. All over the world, such remedial foundations function to the glory of God and joy of humanity. For me, there is no greater essence of life and living
than helping those we can at our various levels. May Allah continue to prosper you sir so that your enablement to mankind and empowerment of the society
shall never cease. I know I have not taxed you much,
Alhaji, because my demand in naira terms is chicken feed to you! Quite unlike you, most other opulent Nigerians in the same club of the rich with you
like to spend their money on frivolous things that merely massage their Nollywood and media visibility egos without
any real value to the society. You must remain an exception. As you grant this unusual request, may Allah make your enemies your
footstool. Na-gwo-de!