In the wake of a staggering controversy surrounding one of its best selling products, Erisco Foods’ boss, Dr. Eric Umeofia, has said he would submit himself to be killed should it be confirmed that Erisco Magiko tomato mix, is a killer product.
Speaking in a live interview on the Nigerian Television Authourity(NTA) Goodmorning Nigeria programme, Dr Umeofia decried a raging blackmail which he attributed to the subterfuge of avaricious importers of substandard tomato from China, he named one Chioma Egodi as the syndicate of the anti made-in-Nigeria goods squad which he fought to a standstill about ten years back.
While also attributing the blackmail leveled against the product as an aftermath of several years advocacy for made-in-Nigeria goods, the Erisco Foods boss noted that his company’s investment in Nigeria is not profit-oriented rather it is a drive to create job opportunities for the teeming Nigerian population.
”Erisco foods have been long in manufacturing in this country and in the forefront of made in Nigeria campaign. Beyond this country, we have been campaigning for people to patronize made in Nigeria products.
”Erisco invested in this country not because of money but for the fact that we want to create jobs for our people.
” Our product is the best for now in the country by the grace of God. We are doing well.
”The importers we fought some 8 to 10 years ago have now re-group thinking that government has change. They re-group to come back in many ways and I want to tell you that that is one of the reasons that triggered this syndicate, he pointed out.
Furthermore, Dr. Umeofia, said that Egodi’s recent review of one of its products on social media has caused the company to lose a $15 million credit line.
”Chioma Egodi was bought to do the hatchet job. She said my product is killing people. Unbelievable, nobody will take that. So, I have to write a petition to police to help to see if my product is killing people so I can be killed because I don’t deserve to live. It is unfortunate some Nigerians believed her while many people still believe in us as most people were sending messages to us saying don’t be discouraged, they are fighting you to leave so that they can take over the Nigerian market”, he said.
He insisted that the Erisco Magiko tomato mix is produced in strict compliance with the guidelines of the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration & Control, NAFDAC which, among other things, directs that products of the sort must contain sugar.
”If you see tomato paste and tomato mix products worldwide, tomato mix has sugar content. We are being transparent in Erisco foods. If you check our tomato mix product, you will see we declared it has sugar. If you don’t want to eat sugar then you can buy other erisco product that has no sugar. You can use tomato mix as ketchup or use it to eat bread like jam. If you check any tomato mix, there must be sugar according to NAFDAC”, he pointed out.
He called on their valued customers whom he said they respect with a passion, and other well-meaning Nigerians to ignore the deliberate calumny orchestrated by Chioma Egodi whom he said has come with a series of apology through a group of elders.
”Egodi has confessed and tendered an apology. She sent her elders from Nnewi . They prevailed on me to please temper justice with mercy”, he disclosed.
The Erisco Foods boss compared the attitude of Egodi to that of Mmesoma who, after several denials of manipulating the JAMB database to forge a result, came confessing and asked for forgiveness.
He therefore implored all and sundry to discountenance the malicious propaganda against Erisco Foods and continue their patronage of the products of the company.
