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| The Celebrant with friends and well-wishers |
This past weekend, Precisely,
Saturday, September 17, 2016, one of the greatest men still living in Abeokuta, Ogun State—Western Nigeria, Alhaji (Chief) Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole clocked 75.
Fondly called “The Caterpillar” in
the Nigeria Political Circle, Chief
Bankole who is the father of former Nigerian Speaker of the Federal House
of Representatives, Rt. Honorable Dimeji
Sabur Bankole (CFR) dragged the cream-de-la-cream of the Nigerian political
circle to Abeokuta with a grand
birthday lecture delivered by former Chief Justice of the Nigerian Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapher (CFR) at Park Inn (Radisson Hotel), Abeokuta in his honor.
Saturday, September 17, 2016, one of the greatest men still living in Abeokuta, Ogun State—Western Nigeria, Alhaji (Chief) Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole clocked 75.
Fondly called “The Caterpillar” in
the Nigeria Political Circle, Chief
Bankole who is the father of former Nigerian Speaker of the Federal House
of Representatives, Rt. Honorable Dimeji
Sabur Bankole (CFR) dragged the cream-de-la-cream of the Nigerian political
circle to Abeokuta with a grand
birthday lecture delivered by former Chief Justice of the Nigerian Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapher (CFR) at Park Inn (Radisson Hotel), Abeokuta in his honor.
The lecture
titled “Building Bridges among
Nigerians” espoused the leadership virtuous of the celebrant describing him
as a very de-tribalized Nigerian and equally submitting a plethora of ideas for
that the Nigerian government could use to ensure a reformed and better society.
The event had the presence of the executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator
Ibikunle Amosun (FCA, OFR) who was the chief host, the present speaker of
the federal House of Representative, Rt.
Honorable Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lasun, ex-Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Ex- Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, ex-Ogun State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru, scion of late
business mogul and acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 election, Basorun MKO Abiola—Kola Abiola,
eminent Publisher, Chief Abiola
Ogundokun, Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oluwo of Iwo land, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi
(Ilufemiloye Telu 1), a former Justice of the International Court of Justice, Chief Bola Ajibola among many other very important dignitaries. Your Africa’s Number 1 Celebrity Encounter
blog, Asabeafrika was at the event
and we bring you the profile of the celebrant and 20 interesting things you
don’t know about him. Take a sit with your favorite drink with snacks and read
the story of Chief Alani Bankole.
¨
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| The Man, Alani Bankole who was the President of his school’s Bible Society despite the fact that he was a Muslim |
- He came 4 years after his parent’s
marriage without an issue - ¨ He was born in a village called Iporo Oju Ogun in Odeda LGA
- ¨ A Prophecy revealed that he was going
to be great in life - ¨ He was the first person to attend St. Peter’s Day School in his Village
- ¨ God admission into secondary school 3
years after primary education because of his Muslim faith - ¨ He became a Petrol Station attendant
at age 15 - ¨ He gained entry into BBHS after
several efforts because he loves the school - ¨ He was Captain of his School football
team - ¨ He was President of his school
Literary and Debate Society - ¨ He was his Class Prefect in his final
year in school
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| Alani Bankole is 75! Alihamdulilai! |
- ¨ He was one of the 3 representatives
of the academia of Nigeria’s Western Region - ¨ Funny enough, He was President of
BBHS Bible Society despite being a staunch Muslim - ¨ He studied Economic & Government
in his GCE-A ‘Levels - ¨ He has a Doctorate Degree in Business
- ¨ He resigned from UBA in 1960 to start
his own business - ¨ He became a millionaire at age 36
- ¨ He is first Nigerian to venture into
IATA Air Chartering business - ¨ He was a Governorship Candidate of
NPN in 1983 elections in Ogun State - ¨ His 2nd son is Nigeria’s 6th
Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives - ¨ He has 4 official wives with one, Adunni late.
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| The Man, Alani Bankole who started working at a Petrol Station at age 15 |
Profile-in-Service…
Chief Suarau Olayiwola
Alani Bankole
was born on the 17th of September, 1941 in a village Iporo Oju Ogun in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. He came after his
parents, Alhaji Rufai Gbadebo Bankole and Alhaja Simiat Bankole had
waited for four (4) years without an issue.
Alani Bankole
was born on the 17th of September, 1941 in a village Iporo Oju Ogun in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. He came after his
parents, Alhaji Rufai Gbadebo Bankole and Alhaja Simiat Bankole had
waited for four (4) years without an issue.
His
greatness was first revealed during divination (Ikosejaye) where his parents
were warned not to take him out of the village until he was of age.
greatness was first revealed during divination (Ikosejaye) where his parents
were warned not to take him out of the village until he was of age.
He had his Primary
Education in 1949 at St. Peter’s Day
School, Ile Odu, a school located six miles from his village. He was
the first to attend that school from his village, after his uncle who had left
school before he was born.
Education in 1949 at St. Peter’s Day
School, Ile Odu, a school located six miles from his village. He was
the first to attend that school from his village, after his uncle who had left
school before he was born.
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| Chief Alani Bankole The Bridge Builder |
St. Peter’s Day School offered education only to elementary
two. So, in 1953, he left St. Peter’s Day
School for St. Peter’s Anglican
School, Ake—Abeokuta. He completed his primary
education in 1956.
two. So, in 1953, he left St. Peter’s Day
School for St. Peter’s Anglican
School, Ake—Abeokuta. He completed his primary
education in 1956.
Gaining admission
into secondary school was a tall walk because those days, preferences were
usually given to Christians and he remained resolute in his decision not to
renounce his religion.
into secondary school was a tall walk because those days, preferences were
usually given to Christians and he remained resolute in his decision not to
renounce his religion.
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| The Celebrant with his Guest Lecturer, Justice Musdapher, an ex-Ogun State Governor, Aremo Segun Osoba in a tete-a-tete |
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| Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (FCA) pays glowing tributes to Alani Bankole |
Three years
after the completion of his primary education, he got admitted into St. Leo’s Secondary modern school, Onikoko,
Abeokuta where he later became the
senior Prefect.
after the completion of his primary education, he got admitted into St. Leo’s Secondary modern school, Onikoko,
Abeokuta where he later became the
senior Prefect.
He was there
from 1959 to 1961 prior to his admission into St. Leo’s secondary modern
school; he has started working as a petrol attendant at Texaco filling
station (now MRS) at Omida area of Abeokuta at the age of
15.
from 1959 to 1961 prior to his admission into St. Leo’s secondary modern
school; he has started working as a petrol attendant at Texaco filling
station (now MRS) at Omida area of Abeokuta at the age of
15.
While he was
student of St. Leo’s, Chief Alani Bankole effectively
combined his academics with his responsibilities at the filling station, which
he discharged conscientiously despite the fact that he was not on salary.
student of St. Leo’s, Chief Alani Bankole effectively
combined his academics with his responsibilities at the filling station, which
he discharged conscientiously despite the fact that he was not on salary.
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| The ‘Birthday boy’ with Speaker Yakubu Dogara |
Having made
efforts to gain admission into Baptist Boy’s High School on more
than one occasion, he finally gained admission into the school of his dream, Baptist
Boys High School in 1961. He completed his secondary education in 1965.
While in BBHS, he started playing for the school team right from Class
One. He later became the team captain in final year. He was the president of
the Literary and Debate Team, he was the class prefect in final year and he was
one of the three Representatives of the academia of the Western region of Nigeria.
efforts to gain admission into Baptist Boy’s High School on more
than one occasion, he finally gained admission into the school of his dream, Baptist
Boys High School in 1961. He completed his secondary education in 1965.
While in BBHS, he started playing for the school team right from Class
One. He later became the team captain in final year. He was the president of
the Literary and Debate Team, he was the class prefect in final year and he was
one of the three Representatives of the academia of the Western region of Nigeria.
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| The Celebrant with his grand son, SULTAN & a guest |
But the most
interesting portfolio he held while in BBHS was the President of the Bible Society even as a devoted Muslim.
interesting portfolio he held while in BBHS was the President of the Bible Society even as a devoted Muslim.
In January
1966, he got three job offers from Nigerian
Railway Corporation, UAC, and Federal Office of Statistics. As a man
who believes so much in breaking new grounds, he opted for Federal office of statistics where he worked as Assistant
Statistical Officer from 1966-1967.
1966, he got three job offers from Nigerian
Railway Corporation, UAC, and Federal Office of Statistics. As a man
who believes so much in breaking new grounds, he opted for Federal office of statistics where he worked as Assistant
Statistical Officer from 1966-1967.
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| Chief Alani Bankole welcomes a Northern Emir to his 75th birthday party |
While there
he painstakingly improved himself academically, he wrote and passed his GCE A’
Levels (Economics and Government). From the Federal office of statistics, 25 of
them were sent to Achimota College of Statistics, University of Ghana in
1967.
he painstakingly improved himself academically, he wrote and passed his GCE A’
Levels (Economics and Government). From the Federal office of statistics, 25 of
them were sent to Achimota College of Statistics, University of Ghana in
1967.
He also
holds a senior management course certificate from the Nigerian Institute of
Management in the year 1978.
holds a senior management course certificate from the Nigerian Institute of
Management in the year 1978.
From 1989 to
1991, he obtained Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pacific
Western University, Los Angeles.
1991, he obtained Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pacific
Western University, Los Angeles.
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| The Celebrant with Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, his long time friend |
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Hitherto, he
obtained intermediate AIB in 1968 from Calvary Grace University, California where he later got an Honorary Doctorate of Business
Administration (DBA) Honoris Causal
in the year 1991.
obtained intermediate AIB in 1968 from Calvary Grace University, California where he later got an Honorary Doctorate of Business
Administration (DBA) Honoris Causal
in the year 1991.
In 1960, he
resigned from UBA to start his own business. He started business with the
supply of stationeries. In 1972, he established Freight Agencies Nigeria Limited,
the foremost indigenous Clearing and Forwarding Agency, at age of 31.
resigned from UBA to start his own business. He started business with the
supply of stationeries. In 1972, he established Freight Agencies Nigeria Limited,
the foremost indigenous Clearing and Forwarding Agency, at age of 31.
By the age
of 36, he had become a millionaire in Naira, Pounds and Dollars.
of 36, he had become a millionaire in Naira, Pounds and Dollars.
He was the
first Nigerian to venture into IATA Air chartering where he was chairman of IML
Air Chartering Nigeria Ltd from 1975-1980 and also a Director at IML
Air Services, UK from 1979-1981.
first Nigerian to venture into IATA Air chartering where he was chairman of IML
Air Chartering Nigeria Ltd from 1975-1980 and also a Director at IML
Air Services, UK from 1979-1981.
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| The Celebrant Chief Alani Bankole welcomes the Olowo Eko, Oba of Lagos His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Akiolu to his birthday |
Chief Alani Bankole’s business drive also led him into
establishing the foremost Aluminum Company in Abeokuta, the West African Aluminum Products Plc
in 1977.
establishing the foremost Aluminum Company in Abeokuta, the West African Aluminum Products Plc
in 1977.
From 1980
till date, he is Chairman of Vuysteke Construction Company Limited.
He is equally the Chairman, S.O.A. Properties Limited from 2003
till date and the chairman, WAAP foods and Allied Products, from 1990 till
date.
till date, he is Chairman of Vuysteke Construction Company Limited.
He is equally the Chairman, S.O.A. Properties Limited from 2003
till date and the chairman, WAAP foods and Allied Products, from 1990 till
date.
As a
politician, he made an indelible mark in his political pursuit. His vast
experience made him a success in all the positions he held. They include:
politician, he made an indelible mark in his political pursuit. His vast
experience made him a success in all the positions he held. They include:
¨ The State Deputy Chairman of NPN from
1980 to 1982. At the same time he was a member of the National Executive
Council of NPN.
1980 to 1982. At the same time he was a member of the National Executive
Council of NPN.
¨ He was a Governorship candidate of
the NPN in 1983 Elections in Ogun State
the NPN in 1983 Elections in Ogun State
¨ He was a founding member of PDP in
1998
1998
¨ He was the first Deputy National
Chairman of APP in 1998 and
Chairman of APP in 1998 and
¨ National Chairman of APP from 1999 to
2000.
2000.
Thirty years
after his advent in politics, his second son, whom he positioned to succeed him
politically, Dimeji Bankole got elected as the Speaker, Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
after his advent in politics, his second son, whom he positioned to succeed him
politically, Dimeji Bankole got elected as the Speaker, Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
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| Ex-Ogun State Governor, Aremo Segun Osoba eulogizes Alani Bankole |
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| The ‘Birthday Boy’ and Seriki Jagunmolu of Egba land welcomes the Oluwo of Iwo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi (Ilufemiloye TELU 1) to his birthday celebration |
Chief Alani Bankole’s contribution to sustainability of
the Egba
culture and tradition is inestimable. Recently, he wrote a book titled “Alake
of Egba land; the succession dynamics” where he
documented the processes involved in the installation of an Alake.
the Egba
culture and tradition is inestimable. Recently, he wrote a book titled “Alake
of Egba land; the succession dynamics” where he
documented the processes involved in the installation of an Alake.
Chief Alani Bankole is a model in fatherhood. Though he
has a large family, he ensured that all his children got educated both in
Nigeria and Abroad.
has a large family, he ensured that all his children got educated both in
Nigeria and Abroad.
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| Speaker Yakubu Dogara pours encomium on Chief Alani Bankole @ 75 |
Ladies and
gentle men, Asabeafrika joins the Bankole family of Iporo-Sodeke
to presents to you a man with a large heart, a bridge builder, an enigma,
truth, fairness and justice personified, the caterpillar of Nigerian Politics,
the model of fatherhood, a successful business man, a consummate politician,
the Seriki
Jagunmolu
of Egba land, Omo Iya Eleni, Omo Baba Elegba nla, Alhaji
Chief Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole.
gentle men, Asabeafrika joins the Bankole family of Iporo-Sodeke
to presents to you a man with a large heart, a bridge builder, an enigma,
truth, fairness and justice personified, the caterpillar of Nigerian Politics,
the model of fatherhood, a successful business man, a consummate politician,
the Seriki
Jagunmolu
of Egba land, Omo Iya Eleni, Omo Baba Elegba nla, Alhaji
Chief Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole.
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| The ‘Birthday Boy’ Alani Bankole arrives for his Birthday Lecture by Rt. Honorable Justice Musdapher |
