Our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, loves chilling in France. France has turned to the new Bourdillion. In all fairness, this visit to Paris did
Our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, loves chilling in France.
France has turned to the new Bourdillion.
In all fairness, this visit to Paris did not start today; it started way before he became president, but the difference between then, when he visited as a private citizen, and now is that he is the president, is that taxpayers are funding this frequent luxury visit to Paris.
To show the significance of this frequent trip to France and how he loves his second country, France, he has visited France more than any other country in the world since he became president two years ago. So far, President Tinubu has embarked on five publicly declared trips to the country: four private visits and one state visit.
But beyond the veneer of this visit, there is a man who lives in Paris too, and his name is Gilbert Chagoury. Gilbert Chagoury, the owner of HiTech Construction Company, which won the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal road without any competitive bidding, also owns the massive Eko Hotel Lagos. He also owns Eko Atlantic, the most expensive city in Nigeria. He is a Lebanese/Nigerian, and his parents arrived in Nigeria from Lebanon at the beginning of the 19th century in search of economic opportunities. Their son Gilbert has achieved success and used to live in Lagos. He is a close friend of the Bill Clinton family, a card-carrying member of the Democratic Party in the state, and a generous funder of the liberals as well.
Gilbert does not live in Lagos again, he has retired from business and the place where he made his wealth; he has relocated to France, where he lives in a castle in Paris, where he is enjoying his retirement. His children run his conglomerate business empire in Lagos, but beyond that, Gilbert is one of the closest human beings alive, close to our president, and their relationship dates back over three decades. And most times, our president spends time in the farmhouse in Paris owned by this controversial businessman from Lebanon, but their relationship goes beyond friendship.
They are also business partners. Nearly $14 billion in Federal contracts have gone to Chagoury businesses since his best friend became the president.
What is happening?
According to multiple reports online Tinubu has approved the award of $700 million for Lagos port renovations to ITB Nigeria, a firm owned by our president’s best friend. Tinubu also awarded the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway worth $13 billion to Hitech, a construction company controlled by the same man.
A leaked document shows that Seyi Tinubu, the president’s favourite son, co-owned an offshore company with Chagoury’s son, Roland. Seyi is also on the board of a Chagoury business, CDK Industries. These contracts were awarded to Chagoury business without competitive bidding.
Even the Eko Atlantic city that was abandoned for years because of how expensive it is, is now a beehive of activity as businesses are moving in en masse to secure a piece of land in the city. First Bank is currently building their head office at Eko Atlantic. MTN just spent over 10 billion to buy land in the same city where they intend to build their new head office. Big businesses that were complaining in the past about how expensive Eko Atlantic is are not complaining again, ooo. They are queuing up to buy land in Eko Atlantic because they have realized how influential Chagoury is in this government, and so the man is smiling to the bank every day, selling his expensive land at Eko Atlantic.
That Eko Atlantic lands are expensive and priced in dollars does not matter anymore. First Bank is building their head office at Eko Atlantic. MTN just bought land. More businesses will move in soon into Eko Atlantic just because they have read the room and they understand we have a new sheriff in town.
Tinubu, his family, his best friend, and the business he controls are balling hard on Nigerian funds while the poor masses are handed the short end of the stick without any clue where the next meal will come from.
State capture is defined as a type of systemic political corruption in which private interests significantly influence a state’s decision-making processes to their own advantage.
So since the two best friends spend time together anytime he is visiting his second country, France. Your guess is as good as mine what they discuss and the decision they take together.
Policy decisions that affect my future and your future are decided by two best friends. Our country has been captured by mafias, typically of the Italian Mafiosi. However, let’s continue to hope and pray for the best.
It is well.
Chukwudi Iwuchukwu writes from Lagos
