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Extremely tough comments on the piece where I noted that Dangote Cement paid the most tax in Nigeria. People, Aliko Dangote is not the only connected big man in Nigeria. He is not the only one the government has supported. BUT he is the most successful in making products people like. Dangote’s biggest connection and support is that NIGERIANS like his products. Period! Governments do not force us to buy his products even when we have options and choices.
Dangote Capital lost $millions and folded because others were better there. Liberty Merchant Bank, his bank, wasted $millions and collapsed because Oba, Ovia, Elumelu, etc were better. Dangote Noodles burnt $millions and later was sold to Indomie noodles when it could not sell because Nigerians preferred Indomie.
But Nigerians want me to believe that when he wins, it is because of the government. Sure, he taxes Nigeria as conglomerates do, but do not diminish his generation’s finest businessman, on the premise that he wins because of the government, and not that customers like his products.
As an entrepreneur, I am working hard to join Dangote so that he is not lonely there. Yes, you can have a new person to attack. My desire is that by 2023, Tekedia Capital will have at least two unicorns (one is likely next year). If that happens, very soon, governments will come and ask: “Ndubuisi, we want you to fix Aba drainage, what are your terms?” Then, I will open this playbook: Conglomerate Tax.
That will help Dangote (diverting attention from him) a lot as many will then say: see, the government gave him all the best drainages on the terms which it could not give me. Nigerians, time to work and build. No one keeps wealth for decades unless customers FUND him.
