Success inspires more success. This is true when you consider the fact that Businessmen have taking up the challenge not to restrict their successes to their business endeavours by ensuring that it’s contagious enough to affect other areas of public life.
Donald Trump showed extremely great courage when he left his multi-billion dollars business to make a mark in the world of politics. He became the 45th president of the United State of America when most people doubted his emergence. Nigerian Businessmen seems to have adopted the logic behind Trump’s statement that “Perhaps it’s time America was run like a business.” They have joined in advocating for a business-oriented style of managing the country.
In recent times, Nigerian Businessmen have keyed into the possibility of making an impact as they have in the business world in the world of politics. These business minded politicians, do not see the reason the Nigeria Project should fail under them since they have businesses that have flourished under their care.
Here are ten Nigerian Businessmen who have ventured into Politics.
Table of Contents
Ben Murray-Bruce:
The history of entertainment in Nigeria cannot be told completely until the impact of this business mogul are outlined. Born to Ijaw parents, Bruce, who was once the Director General of Nigerian Television Authority, started the now-defunct Silverbird Magazine in 1980 with a loan from his father, before Building the Silverbird group to what it is today. The common-sense advocate had his initial failed attempt at politics in 2011 when he contested during the governorship election in his home state, Bayelsa State. He, however, won a seat in the Nigeria Senate in 2015 on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP). Although he would not be a member of the 9th Assembly, Ben Murray-Bruce campaigned for Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar intention to be Nigeria’s president.
Shina Peller:
Shina Peller is the son of popular magician Professor Moshood Abiola Peller. He owns the popular night club, Quilox and he is the founder of Aquila records. Peller, who is a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), recently won the mandate to represent the people of Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency in Oyo State. His vision is to develop “Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa Federal Constituency to become a model constituency that can be replicated as a formula for success across all other local governments in Nigeria.”
Tonye Patrick Cole
Tonye Cole is a Nigerian entrepreneur, the co-founder, and Executive Director of Sahara Group. His achievement in business is laudable, he sits on the board of many companies. The Port Harcourt born businessman ventured into mainstream politics in September 2018 after he resigned as the executive director of Sahara group. Although he suffered setbacks in his quest to be the governor of the River State when the Supreme court disallowed his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) from fielding candidate for the governorship election in the state, however, Tonye seems to be ready to continue to fight for his political ambition.
Yele Sowore
When Yele Sowore declared his interest to contest for the highest seat in the land; the presidency, most Nigerians thought of his ambition as a joke. Known to be a troublemaker, Yele Sowore, came to limelight as an activist and anti-corrupt government advocate. His impact on student activism cannot be overlooked. Yele Sowore, who hails from Ondo State, graduated from the University of Lagos. He exhibited his leadership acumen as a student union leader. Sowore is a media entrepreneur. He started Sahara Reporters in 2006 to fight against corrupt and wrong government practices. The online news platform is reckoned with today for its groundbreaking investigative reporting. In 2018, he left his media business and declared his interest to vie for the Presidency on the back of the African Action Congress (AAC). Though he failed to win the contest, his effort during the course of the race, will not be forgotten in a hurry.
Otunba Akin Alabi
Otunba Akin Alabi is a serial entrepreneur and Philanthropist, who is known popularly for the founding the first sports bookmaking company in Nigeria, NairaBet. Alabi, who hails from Ibadan started his business career in 2003 after obtaining a Higher National Diploma in Business Administration in The Polytechnic, Ibadan. He has since then been a perfect example of young people who have succeeded in their business endeavours.
Alabi initially showed interest in politics in 2014 after he contested the House of Representative seat on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for his constituency Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency which he lost. He, however, contested the same seat in 2019, after he joined the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), which he won.
Ifeanyi Ubah
Ifeanyi Ubah did the unusual during the 2019 election when he was elected to serve Anambra South Senatorial District ahead of a serving senator on the platform which is a relatively unknown political party, Young Progressives Party (YPP). Ubah, who is merely 47 years old, founded Capital Oil and Gas in 2001. He founded The Authority Newspaper and also the owner of Ifeanyi Ubah F.C.
Ubah, also have other business interest in most countries in West Africa. Ifeanyi Ubah, initial attempt to be the governor of Anambra State in 2014 failed after he lost the election to the incumbent state governor, Willie Obiano.
Peter Obi
With his recent ambition to become the Vice President of Nigeria, Peter Obi has shown us how to succeed in business and in politics. Peter Obi has been in business for a very long time, even before he got involved in politics. He initially ran his family and personal businesses before he became a two-term governor of Anambra State in 2007.
He served and currently serving as chairman of several companies.
In 2018, in Peter Obi was chosen by the Presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to be his running mate in the 2019 election, which the party lost.
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