Did Farouk Ahmed Resign Because Aliko Dangote Sneezed? -By Abdulkadir Salaudeen

We are created differently. Many are powerless. Some are powerful. While some are even more powerful—very powerful. This is why when a powerful person sneezes at times, a whole community, region, or country catches cold. For instance, Donald Trump’s single declaration to invade Nigeria woke up Nigerian government from its slumber. The issues of insecurity, which the government has failed to squarely address for years, gains the topmost of its attention (probably only less than the attention it gives to tax collection).

This time around, it was Aliko Dangote, the founder and chairman of Dangote Group, that sneezes while the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, catches cold. This is not to say Ahmed is an underdog while Dangote is a top dog. No. Ahmad is not an ordinary man too. He is a boss in his own right. A man that can spend or has allegedly spent more than seven billion naira to school his four children abroad in secondary school is not a man of little means. He is indeed very powerful. It is only that power pass power.

Let me digress a bit. I once wrote an article titled “Could Dangote and Abdulsamad Emulate the King who Decided to be Generous?” That was five years ago. I learnt of one empowerment scheme tagged “2021 Dangote Support Fund” that was purportedly created to empower individuals with an amount of N100,000. However, Aliko Dangote Foundation openly distanced itself from the scheme, denounced it, and called it a fraud. Yet, I wrote: “the fact that Dangote has a foundation bears testimony to his generosity.” In that article, I exhorted Dangote and AbdulSamad to be generous with their wealth.

Therefore, I am glad to hear that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, identified to be Africa’s richest man has, through his foundation, pledged 25% of his estimated $30 billion fortune to the Aliko Dangote Foundation. This is considered one of the largest personal charitable commitments in modern African history. Determined to ensure the continuity of his charity pledge and to avoid squabbles probably when he is no more (after his death), he formalized this heartwarming decision through a family-backed inheritance agreement, with his mother and three children signing off on the agreement.

At the same time or thereafter, we read that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has again reduced its petrol price, slashing the ex-depot rate from N828 to N699 per litre. That is great! And Dangote deserves commendations. This should bring some ease to common Nigerians. That is about 16% decrease in pump price per liter. Imagine the relief that private car owners and commercial drivers will experience by paying N129 less on every litre of petrol they buy.

Suddenly, oil war broke out among major actors. Dangote cried economic sabotage. He alleged that Ahmed favored importers to the disadvantage of local refineries — an act that harms Nigeria’s energy sector. Truth be said, imports undermine local production and domestic refiners need special protection to remain in business. This is similar to the Tinubu administration’s food import policy introduced in 2024 that suspended duties, tariffs, and taxes on essential food items like rice, maize, and wheat to alleviate food inflation. This policy has been criticized because it greatly hurts local farmers. It is doubtful if Nigerian large-scale farmers will consider taking the risk to farm in the next raining season as they incurred colossal losses and humongous debts this year due to the influx of cheap imports.

The government defends the policy as a necessary crisis-response measure to prevent hunger and stabilize prices. They plan to restore protective tariffs and support local production once domestic supply improves. Could this also explain why government continue to import fuel despite local refineries? I am not an expert in the oil and gas sector. Though I am aware of the corruption that bedevils the sector and the politics involved; I really don’t pay serious attention to oil price politics.

What caught my attention is why a mere allegation by Dangote caused the resignation (or is it sack?) of Ahmed. This is not the first time that allegations of corruption and abuse of public office are made against public functionaries. Several allegations of corruption were/are made against the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. He does not resign. Several unbelievable allegations of aiding and abetting bandits (that are even more dangerous than financial corruption) are made against the Minister of State for Defense Bello Mohammed Matawalle. Yet, he does not resign. He is also not sacked.

It should be noted that this is not the first time that allegation of financial recklessness is made against Ahmed. The Coalition for Transparency (CT) had, since five months ago, called for immediate resignation of Engr Ahmed on the same allegation. They demanded an explanation from Ahmed on how, as a career civil servant without any visible investments, inheritance, or side ventures, he was able to finance the education of his children to the tune of $5.5 million. “His silence and vague claims of integrity are an insult to Nigerians,” said Obinna Francis, CT’s convener.

So, why did Ahmed finally resign? Is it because Dangote is now the one making the allegations? There is more to this than meets the eye. But what exactly are the allegations? They  are economic sabotage, corruption and financial impropriety. Dangote alleges that Ahmed spent over $7 million (approximately N10 billion) to educate his four children in Switzerland, paying school fees upfront for six years. This amount is allegedly disproportionate to Ahmed’s legitimate earnings as a public servant, suggesting possible corruption and abuse of office. Without wasting time, Dangote submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), demanding Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution.

Dangote claims he is acting in the interest of Nigeria and, of course, Nigerians. What should even add credence to this claim is his recent 25% pledge of his entire wealth to education, health, and micro-grants to benefit Nigerians in need. Despite all this, many strongly believe Dangote is protecting is business. His exposé of Ahmed’s corruption has nothing to do with Nigerians. It has everything to do with his refinery. That is all.

Nevertheless, I join other celebrants to celebrate Dangote’s gesture. Devoting one’s wealth, hard earned or earned through privilege, to such a noble cause is no small feat. If I were in a position to advise Dangote on how to benefit Nigerians with his largesse, I would advise him, among others, to pay attention to the almaajiris in Kano State (his state). Those ugly spectacles called almaajiris should disturb and discomfort every responsible and well-to-do indigene of the state.

I feel insulted, as a Muslim, seeing these victims of negligence roaming the streets aimlessly, at best, or scavenging for food, at worst. That almaajiri practice, as it is presently, should be a thing of shame to all reasonable northern ulama, rich men and women, and northern elite. It is disgraceful to Islam and to our culture. Anyone who feels I sound too outrageous should do something about it.

Are there northerners that have the interest of their people at heart? Apparently, not Engr. Ahmed. The money he allegedly spent on his four children (N10 billion) will take away all the almaajiris off all the streets in Sokoto State (his state). He would have been remembered for his generosity even after his death. But this is one thing about stolen or ill-gotten wealth and unlawful earnings. They are hardly used for meritorious deeds. While it is too early to conclude that Ahmed is a thief (a big one), there are strong indications to the possibility. For why did he resign if he can account for his wealth?

However, the problem is that once Dangote secures the protection of his business interests, we might not hear anything about the outcome of the investigation against Ahmed’s source of wealth. This is on the assumption that investigation actually takes place. Let’s hope the Tinubu administration will not let Nigerians down, in this regard as well.

Abdulkadir Salaudeen

salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com