Since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, some politicians in the country have been in government, holding various political positions, appointive and elective, for over two decades
A report conducted by Hotmedia.ng recently presented some of the privileged politicians who has been recycling from one political office to another since 1999.
Below is a summarised list of some of the politicians.
1. YEMI OSINBAJO
Between 1999 and 2007, Osinbajo was Member of Cabinet of the Lagos State Government where he served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
In 2007, Osinbajo became Member, United Nations Secretary General’s Committee of Experts on Conduct and Discipline of UN, Peacekeeping Personnel around the globe.
Since 2015, Osinbajo is serving as the vice president of federal republic of Nigeria
2. AHMED LAWAN
Ahmad Lawan Ahmad Lawan is the current president of the Senate. He has been in the National Assembly since 1999.
Lawan started from being a member of the House of Representatives in 1999 before moving to the Senate where he is representing Yobe North senatorial district.
3. ROTIMI AMAECHI
Between 1999 and 2007, Rotimi Amaechi served as the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He went on to become the state governor and ruled for eight years. In 2015, Amaechi was appointed minister and was also re-appointed in 2019.
4. DANJUMA GOJE
Danjuma Goje in 1999 served as minister of state for power under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He went on to become the governor of Gombe state and served for eight years (2003 to 2011). In 2011, he moved to the Senate where he is representing Gombe Central.
5. IFEANYI OKOWA
He was appointed Commissioner in the Delta State government for Agriculture and Natural Orji in 1999. In 2001, Okowa was appointed Commissioner for Water Resources Development. Then in 2003, he was appointed Commissioner for Health.
In 2007, he was appointed Secretary to the Delta State Governor under Gov. Uduaghan’s administration. From 2011 to 2015, he was elected Senator, where he represented Delta North in the National Assembly. From 2015 to till date, Okowa is currently serving as the Executive Governor of Delta state.
6. NYESOM WIKE
He was elected as the Executive Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) for two terms from 1999 to 2007. Thereafter, he was appointed chief of staff to River State government house, Port Harcourt.
On July 14th, 2011, he was appointed Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Jonathan administration. Since 2015 till date, he is current the Executive Governor of River state.
7. CHRIS NGIGE
In 1999, Chris Ngige served as an assistant national secretary and zonal secretary of the PDP in the southeast. He was elected governor in 2003 but was removed in controversial circumstances.
From 2011 to 2015, he represented Anambra Central senatorial district in the Senate. In 2015, President Buhari appointed him as a minister. He was reappointed in 2019.
8. THEODORE ORJI
In 1999, he served as Principal Secretary, Government House, Umuahia Abia State and later Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor of then Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.
From 2007 to 2015, he served as the elected Governor of Abia State. He is currently in the senate, representing Abia Central Senatorial District in National Assembly.
9. IKE EKWEREMADU
Senator Ike Ekweremadu first served as chief of staff to the then governor of Enugu state between 1999 and 2001, Between 2001 and 2002, he served as the Secretary to the Enugu state government.
In 2003, he crossed over to the Senate where he has been up till this moment.
10. ADAMU ALIERO MUHAMMAD
Adamu Aliero served as the governor of Kebbi state from 1999 to 2007. In 2007, he moved to the Senate and left in 2008 when he was appointed as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He currently represents the Kebbi Central senatorial district in the National Assembly.
11. ALIYU WAMAKKO
From 1999 to 2007, Aliyu Wamakko served as deputy governor of Sokoto state. He emerged governor in 2007 and ruled for eight years. He is currently in the Senate.
12. RAJI FASHOLA
From 1999 to 2007, Raji Fashola served as the chief of staff to the former Lagos governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He later succeeded Tinubu as Lagos governor and ruled Lagos for eight years.
In 2015, he was appointed minister of works, power and housing. In 2019, he was retained as a minister in the Ministry of Works and Housing.
13. RAUF AREGBESOLA
He served as a commissioner under the Tinubu administration in Lagos state. He later moved to his home state, Osun, where he was elected governor and served for eight years (2010 to 2018). He is serving currently as the minister of interior.
14. GEORGE AKUME
Between 1999 and 2007, George Akume served as the governor of Benue state. He was in the Senate from 2007 to 2019. He was appointed minister in 2019.
15. ENYINNAYA ABARIBE
He served as Abia deputy governor following the 1999 election. In 2007, he was elected to the Senate. He is still in the Upper Chamber.
16. GABRIEL SUSWAM
Gabriel Suswam was first elected in 1999 as a member of the House of Representatives. He went on to serve as Benue governor between 2007 and 2015. He is currently in the Senate.
17. JAMES MANAGER
James Manager first served as the PDP in Delta state from 1998 to 1999. In 2003, he was elected to the Senate to represent Delta South. Manage has been representing the zone since then.
18. SAM EGWU
Sam Egwu served two terms as governor of Ebonyi state. He was later appointed a minister in 2008. He is currently in the Senate.
19. ORJI UZOR KALU
Orji Uzor Kalu was the governor of Abia state from 1999 to 2007. He is currently in the Senate.
20. ROCHAS OKOROCHA
Rochas Okorocha first served as a commissioner of the Federal Character Commission in 1999.
Later was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Adviser, Inter-party. He later governed Imo state for eight years as executive Governor, from 2011 to 2019. He is currently in the Senate.
21. ABDULLAHI ADAMU
Adamu was the governor of Nasarawa state from 1999 to 2007. He has been in the Senate since 2011 to till date
22. IBRAHIM GEIDAM
Ibrahim Geidam was elected deputy governor of Yobe state in 2007. He became governor in January 2009 when Mamman Ali died. He was governor until 2019.
At the moment, he is in the Senate.
23. ABDULLAHI UMAR GANDUJE
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje served as deputy governor when Rabiu Kwankwaso governed Kano between 1999 and 2003. From 2003 to 2007, he served as the special adviser (political) to the then minister of defence, Kwankwaso.
Between 2011 and 2015, he was deputy governor again when Kwankwaso was re-elected as governor. Since 2015, he has been the governor of Kano state
24. PAULINE TALLEN
Pauline Tallen served as a minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. She also served as deputy governor in Plateau state.
At the moment, she is currently a minister in the Buhari administration
25. CHIMAROKE NNAMANI
He was elected Governor of Enugu State in the 1999 Enugu State gubernatorial election from 1999 to 2007. He subsequently served as a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator for Enugu East Senatorial District from 2007 to 2011 and was re-elected in 2019. He is currently the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District in the National Assembly
Since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, these politicians above have been in government, moving from one post to another.
