http://sundaytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9419:where-are-these-nigerians-now&catid=41:latest-news&Itemid=26


Once they were in the limelight, among the movers and shakers of Nigeria. Suddenly or gradually these people faded away from the public glare. Their absence has made Nigerians to wonder what has become of them. Well, some have turned into businessmen in Abuja or elsewhere quietly, some have become farmers. Some are struggling to regain their previous glory. Some are nursing grudges against the agents of their misfortune. Here is the story of some 16 Nigerians in response to the question, ‘where are they now?’

Odili expands hospital in Abuja

A former governor of oil-rich Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, nicknamed ‘Daddy’ by his kitchen loyalists, seems to be expanding his over 20 years investment in medical services. Years before becoming governor of Rivers in 1999, Odili had established a popular clinic named Pamol Clinic, located beside a fast food joint along Port Harcourt’s busiest route, Aba road.

While Odili was medical director of the clinic, incumbent governor of Rivers, Rotimi Amaechi, worked as his personal aide. The clinic has been existing for over 20 years. Odili left the clinic for Government House from 1999 to 2007, during which time, Amaechi joined the Rivers State House of Assembly and became Speaker throughout Odili’s tenure.

Dr Odili is said to have returned to his first love, investing heavily in a hospital he is putting up in Abuja. A close associate told Sunday Tust that he owns a multiple storey building besides StanbicIBTC building, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, which will serve as a big branch of Pamol Clinic. The hospital is expected to be ultra modern with top class medical equipment in place. Beside investments in medical services, Odili has long been rumoured of links with a major airline in Nigeria.


Diepreye Alamieyeseigha now ‘Jonathan envoy’


In the case of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, no investment could be linked with him. Many in positions to know happenings around the former governor, said he mainly enjoys some goodwill from the Presidency as President Goodluck Jonathan accords him due regard as his former boss. Alamieyeseigha is said to be one of those with unfettered access to Aso Rock. He played an active role in Jonathan’s 2011 elections. Ahead of the presidential polls, Alamieyeseigha even invoked the wrath of God on any Ijaw person who would vote against Jonathan. He was also active in the recent governorship elections in Bayelsa, which produced Jonathan’s godson, Henry Dickson as governor. Jonathan sees Alamieyeseigha as a leading grassroots political actor in the state, hence like many top politicians, he’s deeply involved in politicking”, going in and out of Abuja and being ‘feared’ or ‘respected’ by political appointees working under Jonathan, a fellow Ijaw man.

Alhaji Kure engaged in mechanized farming

A former Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure, who relinquished power in 2007, did not waste time going back to his former occupation farming, under the auspices of his company, Abu-Turab investment. Sunday Trust gathered that the erstwhile governor, who invested heavily in agriculture especially large scale farming, settled down to manage his gigantic fish ponds and poultry farm located at Chanchaga, a mechanized Fadama (irrigation) farm at Gbakogi and mechanized cereals farm at Lapai.

Abu-Turab investment was said to have over 100 skilled and non-skill labourers on its payroll, working in the three different farms located across three local government areas of the state. It was also learnt that when Abu-Turab investment commenced operations, foreign agricultural consultants were invited at intervals for expert advise, but that has since stopped as indigenous experts are now engaged in place of the foreign consultants.

Accordingly, even after leaving office as governor, Kure still actively participates in politics as he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the People Democratic Party (PDP) at present.

The former governor was in 2009, appointed the board chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), but relieved in 2010. His wife, Hajia Zainab Kure, is a senator representing Niger South. Kure is hardly seen at public functions, particularly those organized by the present administration in the state.



Chukwuemeka Chikelu takes over father’s business

Mr Chukwuemeka Chikelu who was the youngest Minister of Information during the second tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, disappeared from public glare after he was dropped in a cabinet reshuffle in 2006. The minister who cleverly excused himself from the third term project of the former president has returned to private law practice, now managing Chikelu & Co, a firm of solicitors and advocates. He is believed to be engaged in different kinds of consultancy and property businesses.

Leading a quiet life that seems to be his trademark, Chikelu is now married to Barrister Victoria, the first of five daughters of the former Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) retired Major General Haldu Hananaiya.




Prince Vincent Ogbulafor reactivates father’s service stations

Prince Vincent Ogbulafor is remembered as a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consumed by his desire to enforce the zoning principle of the party. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had exhumed a report claiming that Prince Ogbulafor tampered with some N100 million while serving as Minister of Special Duties under the regime of former President Obasanjo. The accusation was used to edge him out of the PDP chair in 2010. But many Nigerians are not unaware that his fall was because he had categorically stated that the North retain the slot for the presidency under the PDP constitution, after the death of former President Yar’adua. Now, Prince Ogbulafor has returned to his private business. One of the things he is engaged in at the moment is the rehabilitation of the petrol station left behind by his late father, who was a traditional chief in Abia State. His wife is also engaged in travel and tourism business. Whenever he is not in Umuahia where he once had a table water factory, he is in his palatial house in Asokoro, a building which reportedly costs N40 million, purchased during the brief stay at Wadata Plaza, Zone 5, Abuja, as the National Chairman of the PDP. Once in a while, he is still being seen at PDP functions, but it is not clear how he relates with President Jonathan whose ambition cost Ogbulafor the lucrative job of PDP top executive.




Senator Arthur Nzeribe now in the cold

Since Chief Arthur Nzeribe failed in his bid to return to the Senate in 2007, his fortunes have been on the down side. The situation is made worse by the fact that the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has snatched power from the PDP in Imo State. During the regime of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Nzeribe was considered a major stakeholder in Imo State. With such recognition came a lot of political patronage, but all that is lost after the 2011 governorship election in the state.

He now lives in his apartment at Apo legislative quarters residence of past and present National Assembly members, and still looks up the financial pages of newspapers to monitor the movement of his shares in companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

He retired from serious business as far back as 1993, as his children are said to have been managing his international businesses from London and the United States of America. Chief Nzeribe has been facing a lot of health challenges, for which he has been shuttling in and out of Nigeria. Unlike in the past when he used to have a crowd around him, Senator Nzeribe who prides himself as a man from Ogwuta Local Government Area, Orlu Senatorial District of Imo State, has very few companions nowadays, most of whom give him support as his frame is becoming frail.




Abba Sayyadi Ruma goes grassroots

Since the demise of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, a member of his kitchen cabinet and former Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Abba Sayyadi Ruma, has been away from public glare. Sunday Trust gathered that he has returned to local politics and is engaged in providing assistance for his people. In addition, he shuttles between Abuja and Katsina to take care of his business interests.

A close associate of the former minister told Sunday Trust that, “Ruma had constructed a hospital, set up a microfinance bank and a skills acquisition centre in his town in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. The former minister is personally managing the three facilities. The hospital and the microfinance bank are located in Batsari local government, while the skills acquisition centre is established in Ruma, his home town.”

Sunday Trust gathered that, Ruma may have invested over N300 million in the centre alone, which is named after his father as Alhaji Sayyadi Ruma Skills Acquisition Centre. It was further learnt that the former minister is also giving attention to local politics at the grassroots level.

It was learnt further that Ruma has engaged some consultants from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and other reputable bodies to manage the hospital.

On politics, his associate said, “Ruma wanted to start politics from the scratch. So he decided to get closer to his people. The facilities he put in place in his home town have made him more popular with his people,” he said.

In spite of his interest in grassroots politics, we learnt that Ruma does not attend political activities in Katsina frequently, but he graces wedding fatihas and pays condolence visits to bereaved persons.




Senator Joseph Waku now car dealer

Senator Joseph Waku was in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003, but he made enough impact to keep him in the memory of many Nigerians. The man who represented Benue Central Senatorial District is still active in the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), but his source of livelihood now does not seem to be politics, but automobile business.

He owns an outfit at Malam Shuhura Plaza in Jabi, Abuja, where he sells different brands of cars. As National Vice-Chairman of the ACF, it seems that Senator Waku is extending his political tentacles to cover the entire North, because, since he left the National Assembly in 2003, he has not made any deliberate attempt to contest any political position in his home state – Benue. However, he regularly shuttles between Abuja, Benue and other parts of the North.



Senator Ibrahim Mantu

goes into chemical business

Since Senator Ibrahim Nasiru Mantu left the senate, he has maintained a low profile, preferring to watch over his businesses, some of which are believed to be outside Nigeria. He is believed to own controlling shares in a chemical company, Mann Chemical Production, in the federal capital. He is also believed to have some business interests in Asia.

He is chairman of the Nigeria/Korea Friendship Association, a bilateral association that explores business opportunities between North Korea and NIgeria. Mantu is also believed to be part of the ownership of Startec Connections, a wireless telecoms company in the FCT, which, however, appears to have packed up. He attempted to stage a comeback on the political scene when he and Senator Abba Aji sponsored a pro Jonathan political association ahead of the presidential primaries of the PDP. He is still identified with political meetings as he operates from the background.

Senator Mantu hails from Mangu Local Govnment in Plateau Central senatorial distirct. His name first came out on the political scene in the second republic. During Babangida’s political transition programme, he contested the national chairmanship of the defunct National Republican Convention and lost to Chieft Tom Ikimi. He then won election to represent Plateau Central Senatorial district under Abacha’s UNCP.

With the advent of democarcy in 1999, he again won election to the senate where he served for two terms between 1999 and 2007. He became deputy senate president after the exit of Senator Haruna Abubakar, now late, in 2000. But he is better remembered for his roles during the Tenure Elongation debate, something which climaxed his politics in two major ways.

First, his support for former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term bid attracted him unprecedented powers, making him defecto number two citizen. That incidentally came at the heels of deteriorating relationship between Obasanjo and his vice, Atiku Aubakar.

But this upward political mobility came with growing public disdain against him. That incident appears to have done some serious damage to his political base in the north. Worse still, some local politics in his home state of Plateau finally ended his years of limelight on Nigeria’s political centre stage, when a relatively unknown retired military officer defeated him at the polls.



Quietly powerful Ghali Umar Na’Abba

The once powerful Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, was unfortunate during the last presidential election because his house in Kano was razed by irate youths.

Apparently, that was because of his support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambition despite that the PDP zoning principle required that the president should come from the North. Luckily for him, he seems to have found his way into the heart of the current administration, working closely with Vice President Namadi Sambo.

The former Speaker is also working closely with Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal more like a consultant to the Speaker.

No doubt, the current Speaker will need Na’abba’s experience to snake through the intricacies of the PDP and the Presidency in the current dispensation. From all indications, it is not clear if Na’Abba is enjoying the best of times with Kano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in Kano State, where the Kwankwasiya craze is the order of the day.



Donald Duke now Consultant on Aesthetics

Since former Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State left power in May 2007, many have wondered what else he can be involved in? As governor and later presidential aspirant under the platform of the PDP, Duke enjoyed the limelight to the extent that no one could have expected him to go into obscurity the way he has been. Recently, however, he emerged from hiding to campaign for the re-election of his successor, Senator Liyel Imoke. However, the question now is, what has he been doing all this while?

Sunday Trust’s findings revealed that Duke has silently delved into different business and consultancy services. In Calabar and few other towns in the state, he is believed to own properties. His wife is behind the thriving Women and Children Hospital on Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar. Duke is also a big-time contractor and consultant to Akwa Ibom and Edo States.

These two governments are said to have engaged Duke to offer professional services on the beautification of their state capitals and other towns. They are said to be impressed by what Duke did at Tinapa, as well as the aesthetic touch that transformed Calabar metropolis into the cleanest city in the country.

There was the feeling that Duke fell out with his friend and successor, Governor Liyel Imoke because of the latter’s remarks that he personally ensured Duke’s emergence as governor in 1999, and expected a similar support to ensure he succeeds in office. Since then, their relationship has been described as similar to that between the proverbial cat and mouse. But with his appearance among the supporters of Senator Imoke for re-election this weekend, it is believed that the two friends have buried their differences.



Obong Victor Attah returns

to architecture

Obong Victor Attah, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, arguably one of the richest states in the country, has returned to his business as a big-time architect. His company is located in Abuja at the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) building and goes by the name Inter Design. Obong Attah, Sunday Trust learnt, was involved in the much-talked about boulevard that a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Ibrahim Modibbo, planned to build from the city centre to the airport.

He was said to have designed the boulevard for the ministry. For the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, Sunday Trust understands, he is involved in the design of some major construction projects in Abuja.

His clients also include private and corporate organisations. Obong Attah is said to be the architect behind the international airport in Uyo. He also designed the popular Le Meridien Hotel in Uyo, a place that is now the choice of many conference organizers in Nigeria.

The Ring road and Airport road in Uyo were designed by his firm. Our reporter gathered that the current master plan of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital was put together by him. Outside government, the former governor is involved in the design of cities around Africa.


Dr Ibrahim Modibbo floats newspaper

A former Minister of the FCT, Dr Ibrahim Modibbo, has now floated a newspaper in Hausa, called Rariya. The minister who didn’t return to the cabinet of late Umaru Musa Yar’adua has led a quiet life since he left the lucrative post as minister.

Though he is suspected to have indicated interest in contesting political positions in Gombe State, he never really jumped into the ring. With the establishment of the Hausa language newspaper which hits the newsstands every Thursday, it is clear that he has returned to his first love – journalism.

Dr Modibbo trained as a broadcast journalist in the United States and practiced in Nigeria before he went for further studies and eventually made an inroad into the political arena. The vernacular newspaper content is an admixture of soft-sell and political stories. As chairman/publisher of the newspaper, he is actively involved in its operations.



Olufemi Pedro returns to

financial sector and PDP

Chief Olufemi Pedro was the deputy governor of Lagos State from 2003 to 2007. Prior to his election as running make of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he was a part owner and Chief Executive Officer of First Atlantic Bank, now Fin Bank.

Few months to the 2007 governorship election, he left the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] because of the problem he had with his boss, Tinubu. Pedro contested the state’s governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party, while still serving as deputy governor.

He was however impeached barely two weeks to the completion of his tenure by the state House of Assembly over what they described as gross violation of the constitution. Since he lost to governor Babatunde Raji Fashola in the 2007 governorship election in Lagos state under the platform of the Labour Party, Pedro crossed to the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and since then, not much has been heard about him.

Sunday Trust learnt that the former deputy governor, having lost in the 2007 governorship election, went into finance and tax consultancy services. “You know, he was in the banking industry when he was picked by Tinubu to deputise for him when he had problem with his then deputy governor, Chief Kofoworola Akerele Bucknor.”

His consultancy firm is located in Victoria Island, Lagos. It was also gathered that he is one of the Directors of Skye bank and one of the backbones of Finbank. It was gathered that he spends more time on his businesses since he lost the bid to govern Lagos state in the 2007 governorship election. “Yes, Pedro is one of the chieftains of the PDP in Lagos. He actually belongs to the power brokers in the party at the state level, but unlike many others who take politics as a career, Pedro is a finance expert with many business concerns. Maybe this is why people think not much has been heard about him.”



Turai Yar’adua goes international

Hajiya Turai Yar’adua, the immediate past first lady left Aso Rock Presidential Villa in 2009 following the death of her husband, former President, Umaru Musa Yar’adua. Checks by Sunday Trust indicated that the former first lady has turned into an international business woman, shuttling between Dubai, England and Saudi Arabia.

Turai among the personalities that are difficult to meet even by is their close friends and associates. While in the country, she is either in Katsina, Kaduna or Abuja.

The source also told Sunday Trust that “Turai has developed the habit of avoiding people. She doesn’t want to have problem with Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and that is why she is not mingling with politicians in the state.”

Our correspondent learnt that the former first lady has invested in many businesses in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and England. She was also said to have much investment in landed property in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna states. In spite of the downturn in stock trading, she has still not given up trading in shares.

She spends much of her time in her Unguwar Sarki residence whenever she is in Nigeria, noting “she only sneaks into Katsina to spend a few days when there is a big event in which her family is involved.”

It was learnt further that most of her political associates have now dumped her and joined Mrs Patience Jonathan.



Chief Jim Nwobodo in desperate moves to revive bank

Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, one-time civilian governor of old Anambra State, has been “out of sight and out of hearing” for quite sometime now and it appears not many can say for sure what he has been doing, either to re-launch himself into national limelight.

For one, his nightmare with former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani is over, and with Governor Sullivan Chime, he is getting on well.

But our reporter learnt from a townsman of the former flambouyant Governor that he has been shuttling between Nigeria and Europe. It was gathered that Senator Nwobodo harbours a dream to ensure that the “hijacked PDP political structure in Enugu State” returns to him.

Sunday Trust was told that for Nwobodo to regain control of the party, he has to overcome the combined forces of Governor Chime and that of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who are surrounded by party supporters at the moment because they are seen to have money to satisfy the desires of many political hangers-on.

For now, Nwobodo hardly visits his Amaechi Awkunanano community as he is also preoccupied with how to reactivate Savannah Bank. “He told, us that reviving the bank now is one of his top most priorities, saying, he has been doing it by ensuring that some of the offices of the bank located in various states in Nigeria are painted with Savannah bank’s official colour to give them a facelift,” said the source.



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