Bola Tinubu: Meet His Billionaire Friends

President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an influential individual who has a close relationship with several billionaires across various industries. As a political strategist, he prioritises relationships and has maintained proximity with some of these billionaires for decades.

Some of these billionaires who are industry leaders have not only supported him in his political endeavours but also have personal friendships with him. Let’s take a closer look at some of them. 

Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote is the founder and chairman of the Dangote Group, the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa. Known as the richest person in Africa, Dangote holds a great relationship with the President-elect. In 2018, they were both named members of the All Progressive Congress, APC, presidential campaign council for the 2019 general elections. He was assigned to the special advisory committee of the president. Both influential figures are Muslims committed to serving Allah. 

Tinubu who sees Dangote as a titan of African industry on his 65th birthday prayed that the billionaire lives long in good health and happiness. Tinubu who assured Dangote and other African leaders ahead of the election that a double-digit GDP is possible, received Dangote in a meeting after he was declared winner of the 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

The Nigerian business magnate is known to establish relationships with political figures to enable a convenient business environment for his products. Their relationship reportedly dates back to when Tinubu was governor of Lagos.

Femi Otedola

Femi Otedola is an oil mogul, who currently serves as the current executive chairman of Geregu Power PLC. Otedola has been friends with Tinubu for several years. Otedola’s father, Sir Michael Otedola served as Lagos governor, years before Tinubu became governor. In 2018, Otedola worked closely with Tinubu, and Dangote in the APC Presidential campaign council. 

Also, he was one of the billionaires to pray for Tinubu’s presidential ambition. Writing after visiting Tinubu in Paris, France, Otedola tweeted, “I am always excited visiting my Great Friend Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. May God grant him his heart’s desire in becoming the President of this great Nation. F.Ote.” 

Otedola who recently invested in power generation as part of the liberalization of the sector in Nigeria was happy at Tinubu’s win. Newsmen reports that he recently paid Asiwaju a visit in the company of Dangote. 

Abdulsamad Rabiu

Abdulsamad Rabiu the founder and chairman of the BUA Group also has a smooth relationship with Tinubu. The President-elect has celebrated his outstanding performance on several occasions. One such is the congratulatory message sent to Rabiu on his 62nd birthday. Tinubu in a statement said, Rabiu has “provided jobs for many and assisted many more, helping to put food on their tables through his huge investments in manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture.” Asiwaju also congratulated Rabiu on his reappointment as President of the France-Nigeria Business Council by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Tinubu noted that his “reappointment reaffirms Alh. Rabiu’s commitment to the economic development of Nigeria, and the confidence reposed in him by the council to unlock opportunities for business partnerships between Nigeria – Africa’s largest economy, and France – one of the world’s largest.”

Tinubu who has been described as a creative economist is billed to work closely with the country’s business leaders to revive the nation’s economy.