Gbenga Aluko (1963- 2021)
Category: Who is Who in Nigeria
Daniel Olugbenga Aluko, known as Gbenga Aluko, is a Nigerian politician. He
was elected Senator for the Ekiti South constituency of Ekiti State, Nigeria
at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People's
Democratic Party platform. He took office on 29 May 1999.
Daniel Olugbenga Aluko was born on 20 July 1963, to Professor Sam Aluko, a prominent Nigerian Economist from Ekiti State of Nigeria. He attended Federal Government College, Ilorin, and later got admission into the University of Benin, graduating in 1982 with a degree in Geography and Regional Planning.
He furthered his education at the College of Energy and Petroleum Studies, Oxford, England for a Post Graduate Course in International Oil Trading and Pricing.
He worked between 1983 and 1999 as the the Managing Director/CEO of HYGYNIX, Executive Director of Baseline Petroleum and Chemicals and Executive Chairman of Independent Strategists.
He was appointed Special Assistant to the Minister of Transport and Aviation and General Manager of Nigeria Shipper’s Council from 1993 to 1995.
Daniel Olugbenga Aluko was born on 20 July 1963, to Professor Sam Aluko, a prominent Nigerian Economist from Ekiti State of Nigeria. He attended Federal Government College, Ilorin, and later got admission into the University of Benin, graduating in 1982 with a degree in Geography and Regional Planning.
He furthered his education at the College of Energy and Petroleum Studies, Oxford, England for a Post Graduate Course in International Oil Trading and Pricing.
He worked between 1983 and 1999 as the the Managing Director/CEO of HYGYNIX, Executive Director of Baseline Petroleum and Chemicals and Executive Chairman of Independent Strategists.
He was appointed Special Assistant to the Minister of Transport and Aviation and General Manager of Nigeria Shipper’s Council from 1993 to 1995.
He was appointed Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and later Vice Chairman of the Gas Committee and Chairman of the Petroleum Committee.
He was also appointed as Chairman of an ad hoc committee to investigate the
controversial closure of Savannah Bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria. In
September 2002, he seconded a motion to set up an ad hoc committee to
investigate alleged constitutional and budgetary breaches committed by
President
Olusegun Obasanjo, which could be grounds for impeachment.
In October 2002, Aluko replaced Oserheimen Osunbor as Chairman of the Senate
Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Aluko was involved in controversy when he was among those indicted by a panel chaired by Senator Idris Kuta that investigated financial improprieties by Senators. The panel and a subsequent ad hoc committee chaired by Senator Victor Oyofo issued reports that found Aluko had overcharged for repairs to senators' quarters and overpriced computers and office equipment supplied to senate members, and recommended that he refund the excess. However, in September 2002, the Senate adopted a motion proposed by Aluklo that senate should duly absolve all Senators indicted in both reports.
After leaving the Senate, Aluko continued in private enterprise, holding a controlling interest in Alstegg and Midlands, a Civil Engineering Firm and serving as a Director of Crest Healthcare, Consultant to DFID on Parliamentary Matters and Director of Government Affairs with Chevron Nigeria.
He left the PDP for the Labour Party, on which platform he unsuccessfully contested the Ekiti State governorship election in 2007. In December 2009, Aluko returned to the PDP.
Aluko was involved in controversy when he was among those indicted by a panel chaired by Senator Idris Kuta that investigated financial improprieties by Senators. The panel and a subsequent ad hoc committee chaired by Senator Victor Oyofo issued reports that found Aluko had overcharged for repairs to senators' quarters and overpriced computers and office equipment supplied to senate members, and recommended that he refund the excess. However, in September 2002, the Senate adopted a motion proposed by Aluklo that senate should duly absolve all Senators indicted in both reports.
After leaving the Senate, Aluko continued in private enterprise, holding a controlling interest in Alstegg and Midlands, a Civil Engineering Firm and serving as a Director of Crest Healthcare, Consultant to DFID on Parliamentary Matters and Director of Government Affairs with Chevron Nigeria.
He left the PDP for the Labour Party, on which platform he unsuccessfully contested the Ekiti State governorship election in 2007. In December 2009, Aluko returned to the PDP.
He later joined the All Progressives Congress, party and was one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the party in Ekiti State in 2018.
Aluko is married to Sileola and the couple have five children, including the footballers Eniola and Sone.
No comments