Africa’s richest man and chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has politely rejected attempts by a politician to exchange his cap with President Bola Tinubu branded cap, bearing the insignia of the nation’s leader at a public function in Ogun State.
The inappropriate conduct occurred during a group photo session with some dignitaries at the sideline of the inauguration of cargo Gateway international airport, Ikperu in Ogun State by President Bola Tinubu at the weekend.
A viral video shows VIPs getting set to take group photographs, when an elderly man believed to be a government official, suddenly, removed his cap, stretched his left hand across Dangote’s head, aiming to substitute it with Dangote cap, but the later swiftly turned down the unsolicited attempt to cap him.
The incident triggered alarm after Senator Dino Melaye posted the video on the internet, with a yoruba song as a backgrounder, prompting dissenting reactions by netizens.
Some Nigerians viewed the unsolicited gesture as joke that might have been laced with an ulterior motive and praised the billionaire for his action, while others interpreted the rejection as a sign that he holds a position as a non-state actor, above active partisan politics by maintaining his independence rather than acting as a political subordinate.
Another school ot thought took the drama as superstitious or humorous angle, which could bring bad luck to Dangote who responded spontaneously and avoided ‘spiritual risk’.
Commenting on the development, a Facebook user, Moses Agose Ajirioghene wrote, “No, that is not what I think.
The other man took the cap from his head and tried to wear it on Dangote”, according to the user who argues thus: “Taking cap from his head and wanted to wear it on another man has many implications which I will leave you to think about”.
Babangida Luka Mingeh wrote in an uncoordinated English, “Omo money Good I swear, see the cap wey poor people the rush to wear. Dangote reject am shap”.
Another Nigerian, Alohunmata Oluwatofunmi Hakeem wrote: “The guy that tries that is very funny. What if Dangote starts having headaches after wearing it? You don’t do that for security reasons”.
In another engagement, Esomaik church Ikechukwu argues, “Light and darkness can never mix”, while Patrick Ayan II wrote: “A sane person knew that Aliko Dangote never ever associated with any political party or Candidates”.
According to him, “we knew that he is a businessman and would not openly support any political party or candidate, he always move freely with every one of them”.
On his part, Ibuowo Temidayo wrote: “My own contribution to it
Let’s forget about the logo on the cap
He didn’t even know the type of cap it is.
He stated that, “All he noticed was that the person wanted to wear cap on his own head without noticing him.
Someone put off cap on his head and put it on your head without your notification
Don’t you know it is nonsense”.
TheNewspad reports that Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, had in October 2025, domesticated and made the wearing of President Tinubu branded outfits bearing his insignia compulsory for all government officials in the State, ahead of the re-election bid of the Nigerian leader in 2027.
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