BerylPubaf People of the Year 2010

Beryl Group Public Affairs '2011' Political Ticker

Author: Gabriel Omololu Omowaye, COO Beryl Group

Beryl Group Public Affairs has over the years been involved in quality construction of the political landscape in Africa, and particularly in Nigeria.

The year 2010 has witnessed a lot of political dramatization throughout the global converse. As far as the organization is concerned, the ‘2011’ political ticker is centered on Nigeria.

In Nigeria, Beryl Group is taking up new shape to match up the democratic standard of political landscape in the country. The majority of the primary elections of the major parties have been concluded while eyes are set on the on-coming presidential primaries this week between the ruling party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party and her arch-rival, the Action Congress of Nigeria.

BerylPubaf, having considered the shape and structure of the Nigerian Politics, left the primaries for the party to conduct, while taking up the challenges in a different measure for the right candidates in the general elections.

As a common philosophy by George Santaya, that he who forgets his history is doomed to repeat it. BerylPubaf would like to enjoin her blog follower and other bloggers has she inputs her 2010 BerylPubaf people of the year.

1. Goodluck Jonathan

He is the former governor of Bayelsa State who later became the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria alongside former President Shehu YarAdua. He is the current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

What qualified him a member of BerylPubaf 2010?

At the demise of the former president, his outward calmness in the face of the storm is worthy of embodiment. Despite inside workings, he appeared a great statesman. That alone deserves him kudos.
Secondly, on resumption to office, with the technocrats and bureaucrats he appointed like the Olusegun Aganga, Henry Odein Ajumogobia, Lamido Sanusi and et cetera makes him a man worthy of leadership.

Finally, he has less or no interference with the judgements of the appeal tribunals unlike the usual ‘due process’. Although the recent decampment of many of his ministers like Dora Akinyuili and aides like Timi Alaibe, could raise dust to the interference, he is a proud member of BerylPubaf 2010.

2. Atiku Abubakar

He is currently one of the presidential candidates in the primaries of the ruling peoples’ democratic party, and a perhaps the major focus against his fellow party member and contender, President Goodluck Jonathan. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.

What qualified him a member of BerylPubaf 2010?

Atiku, as he is popularly referred to, is perhaps the current undisputable master of Nigeria’s political machinery. You want to get him down? One call to one of his dynamic frontline lawyers, you are nobody and nowhere to be found.

He left the ruling party for the Action Congress of Nigeria because of circumstances travailing the Peoples’ Democratic Party at that time, especially firm standagainst the third term bid as against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, of his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo. Despite a lot of storm against him, he remained not fidgeted. He deserves kudos.

He returned to the ruling party. He had a lot of challenges taking a hold. He pitted tent with his home-state arch-rival, Senator Jubril Aminu, and moved ahead. He was eventually admitted through legal means he instituted. For his boldness and high level of diplomacy, he deserves another kudos.

Finally, being one of the potential presidential candidates of the ruling party, his utmost releveance in the Nigeria poltical scence especially in his party, and being the arch-rival of the current president of the country, and his party member; his notability in the year 2010 makes him a proud member of the BerylPubaf 2010.

3. Kayode Fayemi

Dr Kayode Fayemi is the current governor of the fountain of knowledge state, Ekiti State. He is one of the leading activists of political reform in the country in the present dispensation.

What qualified him a member of BerylPubaf 2010?

The recovery of his ‘lost’ mandate after three years has so far been regarded and lauded as the one of the highest judiciary (legal) reforms in political landscape in Nigeria.

His calmness and high level of political maturity during the political travails are highly plausible.

As for the second elective governor Ayo Fayose who was the chairman of the ruling party's presidential review/selection committee before his untimely exit, Fayemi is recently named as the chairman of his party’s presidential review/selection committee, amking the state one of the highest revered states in the country.

For all the achievements and those not mentioned, he is a proud member of BerylPubaf 2010.

4. Arunma Oteh

Ms Oteh, as she is generally referred to, is the Director General of the Nigeria Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

What qualified her a member of BerylPubaf 2010?

Her presence in the SEC and the great reforms she had implemented, she deserves to be honored. Alongside, the integrity of the commission she had humbly preserved makes her a proud member of the BerylPubaf 2010.

5. Aliko Dangote

Mr Dangote is the chairman of the business conglomerate, Dangote Group of Companies. He is one of the Forbes-listed three black billionaires from Africa.

What qualified him a member of BerylPubaf 2010?

Politician come, politicians leave, Dangote remains undaunted. Recession or no recession, Dangote remains fervent.

Towards the end of year 2010, his cement franchise soared the Nigerian business. His business remains the business of hope. Managers bow, governments consult, Dangote flies high in the business sector.

For his consistency and relevance, Alhaji Dangote is a proud member of BerylPubaf 2010

6. Ahmed Tinubu

Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is the former governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. He is currently a top chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria.

What qualified him a member of BerylPubaf 2010?

Whenever western world is mentioned, western Nigeria cannot be ignored. After the exit of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the highly appraised former Premier of Nigeria western world, Tinubu has rose up to the challenge. He stood thick and thin to ensure his state, Lagos State was not lost to the Peoples’ Democratic Party when the political landscape was heated up under former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the west too.

Using Lagos as a western base or capital as might be preferable, Tinubu left the Alliance Democracy to the now eventual Action Congress of Nigeria. With him being at the pilot seat, the party has reclaimed two seats from the lost four western states, and one from the middle belt; and to her credit, have had many notable politicians decamp to her fold.

Asiwaju is a proud member of BerylPubaf 2010. He deserves full kudos for his agility and one-man position of focus.

7. Henry Okah

Mr Okah is the 'former' leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). He is currently standing trial at a South African Court.

What qualified him a member of BerylPubaf 2010?

BerylPubaf had considered that if one of the leading World Media Organizations, Time, mentioned Osama Bin Laden into his notable personalities, our notable personalities also included people who had made great impacts.

Mr Okah is very controversial. 2010 witnessed the rise of bombings in Nigeria. With the Independence Day, October 1, bombing that Mr Okah has been arrested for, he had repeatedly laid claim that the Federal Government roped him into the allegation on the basis for him to have refused to implicate the FG's opponents. Despite the arrest of his family members alongside, bombings have continued.

Mr Okah remains a highly regarded personality into the know-how of peace to return to the country. His high level of intelligence and importance makes him a proud member of BerylPubaf 2010.



Other people to mention include Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Johnnie Carson, Dora Akinyuili, and Julian Assange of Wikileaks.



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