Gbenga Aluko

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Gbenga Aluko
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Ekiti State South District
In office
May 1999 – May 2003
Succeeded byBode Olowoporoku
Personal details
Born
Daniel Olugbenga Aluko

(1963-07-20)20 July 1963
Ekiti State, Nigeria
Died20 November 2021(2021-11-20) (aged 58)
Abuja, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party
Parent(s)Sam Aluko (father)
RelativesBolaji Aluko (brother)

Daniel Olugbenga Aluko fondly called Gbenga was born at University College Hospital Ibadan, on 20 July 1963 into the family of Professor Sam Aluko, a prominent Nigerian Economist from Ode-Ekiti. As a young child Gbenga was exceptionally athletic and by the time he was in his teens, he could play tennis, cricket, basketball and football. He excelled in football in particular. He also loved and kept pets. He kept rabbits as a child and dogs once he left home to live on his own. Senator Aluko attended Federal Government College, Ilorin where he completed WASC examinations with a clean sweep of A grades. He went to University of Ife initially and then changed his course of study to Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Benin where he graduated in 1982 . He later went on to the College of Energy and Petroleum Studies, Oxford, England for a Post Graduate Course in International Oil Trading and Pricing. Senator Aluko married Sileola Adamolekun in November 1986 and they had their first child, Eniola in 1987. 

He always had a zeal for enterprise and  held several positions between 1983 and 1999 including Founder and Managing Director of HYGYNIX, Executive Director of Baseline Petroleum and Chemicals and Executive Chairman of Independent Strategists. In the year 1993 he was appointed Special Assistant to the Minister of Transport and Aviation and General Manager of Nigeria Shipper’s Council where he served from 1993 to 1995.

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Birth and early career[]

Daniel Olugbenga Aluko fondly called Gbenga was born at University College Hospital Ibadan, on 20 July 1963 into the family of Professor Sam Aluko, a prominent Nigerian Economist from Ode-Ekiti. As a young child Gbenga was exceptionally athletic and by the time he was in his teens, he could play tennis, cricket, basketball and football. He excelled in football in particular. He also loved and kept pets. He kept rabbits as a child and dogs once he left home to live on his own. Senator Aluko attended Federal Government College, Ilorin where he completed WASC examinations with a clean sweep of A grades. He went to University of Ife initially and then changed his course of study to Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Benin where he graduated in 1982 . He later went on to the College of Energy and Petroleum Studies, Oxford, England for a Post Graduate Course in International Oil Trading and Pricing. Senator Aluko married Sileola Adamolekun in November 1986 and they had their first child, Eniola in 1987. 

He always had a zeal for enterprise and  held several positions between 1983 and 1999 including Founder and Managing Director of HYGYNIX, Executive Director of Baseline Petroleum and Chemicals and Executive Chairman of Independent Strategists. In the year 1993 he was appointed Special Assistant to the Minister of Transport and Aviation and General Manager of Nigeria Shipper’s Council where he served from 1993 to 1995..[1]

Senate career[]

After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999 Aluko was appointed to committees on Selection, Senate Services (vice chairman), Aviation, Women Affairs, Finance & Appropriation, Social Development & Sports and Local & Foreign Debts.[2] He was appointed Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate. Later he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Gas Committee and Chairman of the Petroleum Committee.[1] Aluko was opposed to plans to privatize the Nigerian Mint. He was appointed Chairman of an ad hoc committee to investigate the controversial closure of Savannah Bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria.[3] 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.[4] In October 2002, Aluko replaced Oserheimen Osunbor as Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

Later career[]

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.[1] He left the PDP for the Labour Party, on which platform he unsuccessfully contested the Ekiti State governorship election in 2007.[8] In December 2009, Aluko returned to the PDP.[9]

Personal life[]

Gbenga Aluko was married to Sileola and Adebola. He had seven children, the eldest being the renowned  footballers Eniola and Sone; others are Gbemisola, Lolade, Bubemi, Temisan and Folarin. ..[10][11]

[12]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Senator Daniel Olugbenga Aluko". Alex Ekwueme Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  2. ^ "Congressional Committees". Nigeria Congress. Archived from the original on 18 November 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  3. ^ Bature Umar (30 August 2002). "Senate Vows to Halt Sale of Mint. Sets up panel to probe Savanna Bank closure". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 27 October 2003. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  4. ^ Bature Umar (14 September 2002). "who is WHERE?". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 25 August 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  5. ^ Chuks Okocha and Bature Umar. "Anyim, Na'Abba Move Against Anti-impeachment Lawmakers". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 27 November 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  6. ^ "Report on the Idris Kuta Report by Victor Oyofo Committee". ThisDay. 11 April 2001. Archived from the original on 20 September 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  7. ^ Yusuph Olaniyonu, Bature Umar and Pius Anakali (15 September 2002). "What Manner of Senate?". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 30 November 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  8. ^ Stephen Gbadamosi (19 March 2010). "Nigerians should be patient with Federal Government - Aluko". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  9. ^ "Intrigues behind Gbenga Aluko's return to Ekiti PDP". NIGERIAN COMPASS. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  10. ^ "Senator Gbenga Aluko's Senate Submission over the Kuta Report [5th September, 2000]". Nigeria World. 6 September 2000. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Aluko hungry for 2010 WC action". Kick Off. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  12. ^ On 20 November 2021, Gbenga collapsed in his Abuja office and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.https://newsnigeriatoday.com/senator-gbenga-aluko-slumps-in-abuja/ Senator Gbenga Aluko Slumps In Abuja]
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