Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has advised Aliko Dangote, Africa's wealthiest man, to seek divine intervention regarding the crisis facing his multi-billion-naira refinery.
In a statement signed by his media office Tuesday, Primate Ayodele revealed that he had sent a prominent northern traditional ruler to warn Dangote of an impending confrontation with the government over the refinery, but his warning was ignored.
The cleric stated that the refinery will benefit Nigeria's economy, but powerful individuals will try to frustrate Dangote's efforts, hence, the need to seek God's face.
He advised Dangote to seek God's face to overcome the challenges ahead.
Primate Ayodele also criticized the Nigerian government for fighting indigenous companies like Dangote, despite the country's struggling economy.
He emphasised the need to support local businesses, citing Innoson Motors as another example.
He noted that the refinery will create jobs and end fuel scarcity, even if it doesn't reduce fuel prices.
He urged the government to put ethnicity aside and support Dangote's project, warning that sabotage will harm Nigeria's economy.
''If the government starts fighting indigenous companies, how do we expect to grow? We have to encourage indigenous companies and having Dangote refinery will create more labour in the market. I don't know why they are trying to sabotage the refinery because it's a blessing to Nigeria. The government should support these people. We also have Innoson motors and instead of supporting foreign countries, why not give Innoson the full support?
''These are the people who can make the economy smile, I see no reason Dangote should not be licensed or joking with this multi-billion naira project. It is time to put ethnicity aside and focus.
''Although Dangote is a businessman and his fuel may not make any serious difference, there won't be scarcity anymore and it will create more jobs for Nigerians,'' he noted.
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