The Nigerian political landscape is filled with different class of people.

While some take politics as a full time job, others have left the private sector to participate in the political process. But one trend that seem to be growing is established businessmen coming in to the murky terrain of politics.

Political analysts say these men and women who are billionaires in their own right, participate in the process to get connected to the powers that be.

Others say some use it as an avenue for them to secure their businesses and advance them financially. Be that as it may, it is not a doubt that many of Nigeria’s state executives today, were made men before they assumed office.

NAIJ.com lists five governors who were already successful businessmen and known billionaires before they joined politics.

Read below:

1. Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo): The name ‘Rochas’ was synonymous with riches and philanthropy before politics came calling for the 53 year old. His rag-to-riches story began in Gboko, Benue state when at the age of 23, he set up a school and went into cement business. The Imo state governor made his first million as an agent for a construction company. He invested his money into car sales and later diversified into real estate which eventually made him a billionaire. He is the owner of Rochas Group of Companies Limited. A group of companies that are into real estate, importation, education, manufacturing e.t.c.


2. Dr Samuel Ortom (Benue): Dr Ortom’s story is quite inspiring. He moved on from being a motor park tout to having a PhD from the Commonwealth University, Belize. His businesses include Oracle Business Limited, the firm that produces the popular Goshen table water; Oracle Oil Mills, Oracle Printing Press, Oracle Farms Limited, Oracle Business Limited, Capital Prints Limited and Achieve Engineering Limited. Little wonder, former president, Goodluck Jonathan appointed him as the minister of state of industry, trade and investment. He is a billionaire by all standards.


3. Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa): He has been an astute businessman since the 70s. He is the chairman of Almakura Nigeria Limited. A company that is into importing and servicing agricultural and industrial machinery. He is also a big player in the real estate sector with his company, Ta’al Nigeria Limited having properties in Nigeria’s major cities and in the United States of America. Al-Makura is also the owner of the prestigious Ta’al Lake Resort, Abuja and the Ta’al Conference Hotel, Lafia. Those who know him well, says he was a very content man before he dabbled into politics.


4. Mr Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger): At 48, Bello has one of the most intimidating Curriculum Vitae you will ever see in Nigeria. Although he is from a very wealthy background, he started out early to carve a niche for himself in the private sector. He has been the chairman of Properties and Estates Limited, Millenium Air, Millenium Travels and Tours, Prudent Health Care Management Limited and Heritage Hospitality Services Limited. Bello has also been an alternate director at MTN Nigeria and the defunct Broad bank, director at Investment Centre Limited, Dana Air and a board member of Broad bank.




5. Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa): The accountant turned-politician has paid his dues in business. The 53-year old started his business in the 90s after working in the Kano state civil service. His company, Talamiz Nigeria Limited has grown into a large conglomerate with subsidiaries like Talamiz Motors, Talamiz Consumer Company, Talamiz Oil Mill Limited, Talamiz Transport, Talamiz Commodities, Socar Talamiz Limited Talamiz Properties, Talamiz Poultry and Farms, and Talamiz Petroleum. He is also the Chairman of RMR shipping Bv, AML Bonded Terminal, ALUAFRIC Cairo and a former director at Sahih Nigeria Limited.

https://www.naij.com/799095-5-governors-already-billionaires-assumed-office.html?source=index_trending


www.nairaland.com/attachments/3602475_20160414175755_jpeg732e2d1e69fc917e6e30707b1c226197

Incomplete list, udom, ayade etc were billionaires b/4 venturing into politics.

this rochas story does not make sense lots of missing links i think i will stick to the 419 alas political thug story

We are getting der!!

Is this for real?

What of orji uzo kalu ?

Tinubu was a mere drug and money launderer in the US, he is now the richest ex-governor in Nigeria.

I don't believe the school of thought he made his billions from drugs.
I think Tinubu made his billions fleecing Lagosians, either way he made his billions through criminal activities.

Great

Not like Obi, Fayose, Akpabio, Orji to mention a few

and is that the issue, there are pressing economic needs & d mumu op is reminding us of some criminal billionaires who can't reveal the source of their wealth..!!

Still yet their performance was wack and below average especially rochas okorocha.


Imo people voted for rochas against ohakim because they believe that since he is already rich and also a philanthropic with free education from his own pocket that he will perform better but he disappointed those that voted him even me.


I.m yet to any Nigeria politician that can trusted.

Billionaires.

And how well have they paid back to the society?
How lasting has the impact of their governance been?

Billionaires don't make the world better, only people who have the interests of others in mind.

Note that I'm not jabbing them. The fact that they are billionaires doesn't change a thing but the impact they leave behind.

I know of Rochas, I don't know if it was billions but I know he was very very wealthy and philanthropic.. I always knew the philanthropy was in preparation for politics sha.

Then Orji Uzo Kalu.. I believe that one's money is in billions sha and I do not know how he got it.

What of Oshoko?? the slayer of APC. Fayose!

Sunnymatey:
Incomplete list, udom, ayade etc were billionaires b/4 venturing into politics.

Yea, you right here.

Sunnymatey:
Incomplete list, udom, ayade etc were billionaires b/4 venturing into politics.

Who dash Udom... He was just a comfortable millionaire before he became governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Nawa ooo! This post never reach 2nd page...e don enter front page.

Mods! I hail una ooo!

Right from time, rochas is a big boi ...
My governor my governor ...

izospindle:
this rochas story does not make sense lots of missing links i think i will stick to the 419 alas political thug story

You re talking nonsense ... stick to what you know ..

Rochas Okorocha for where?

Rochas would've been a legendary pauper had he lost 2011 election to Ohakim.

His creditors would've led him to early grave. Thank goodness the down trodden in Imo State came to his rescue and this is the true meaning of the anthem "Rescue Mission" you hear Okorocha sing always.

OWELLE
I don't know why I like this man,
the man that paid my school fees for 2 years in the University I sight you sir.

We haven't had the usual pastor or christian defamation news/threads today, why

Hmm. Where they billionaires or they just have some wealth. There is no geuine bilionaire in Nigeria. If Rochas is a billionaire, how come he was broke before he became a governor. I do not believe all this trash. its like covering up for their loots.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State should be on that list, he works with the world bank before going into politics.


One Ekiti man besides me is mentioning Fayose too, that he made his billions from being an agbero and selling rice Congo or derika for oja oba in ibadan before he dabbled into politics.

izospindle:
this rochas story does not make sense lots of missing links i think i will stick to the 419 alas political thug story

Igbo hater. The moment you saw an Igbo name your adrenalin shot up.Is Rochas the only one in the list? But a list without Orji Uzor Kalu and Peter Obi is not complete.

what a stupid and daft article. If you are talking Naira billionaires, then virtually every governor is a billionaire as a billion naira is only $5m dollars, you will spend that much just be be a governor and if you are talking dollar billionaires then none of those five are dollar billionaires so what exactly is the point of this thread?

Five Abokis











Sorry, Rochas No fellow but come resemble them!!



#MYSIGNATURE#MYBUSINESS#

Gov. Sani Bello, popularly known as Abulolo or Lolo.for short here in Niger state. It is remoured that he boasted that he loses money being governor. His deputy is said to be the de facto governor

i think aregbesola shud be included in that list....lol

Ok.

Create another thread and tag it 'list of governors that became billionaires after they assumed office'. Oshiomole will be No 1.

izospindle:
this rochas story does not make sense lots of missing links i think i will stick to the 419 alas political thug story

Gbam!

OK