Femi Pedro

Olufemi Pedro (born 29 January 1955 in Lagos) was the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria from 2003 until 2007. Prior to his election alongside Bola Tinubu, he was the Chief Executive Officer of First Atlantic Bank, now First Inland Bank.

Personal life and education

Pedro received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from University of Wisconsin-Superior (1976-1978) and a Master's degree in Economics from Wichita State University (1979-1981).

He is married to Justice Jumoke Pedro, a High Court Judge in Lagos; they have 4 children.

Business career

Pedro was the Managing Director and Owner of First Atlantic Bank from 1998-2003. Prior to that, he served in various capacities in Guaranty Trust Bank, First City Merchant Bank and The Central Bank of Nigeria. He was a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria from 1994 to 2002, Chairman of the First Atlantic Online Limited from 2002 to 2003.

Political career

In his years as the Deputy Governor, he raised the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from 300 Million Naira per month to a staggering 7 Billion Naira per month in the space of eight months. He also led the State Government Economic Team, and championed the fight against the PDP-led Federal Government regarding the withheld Local Government Funds in 2003.

Gubernatorial run

In September 2006, Femi Pedro declared his intention to run for office as the Governor of Lagos State in 2007.

On 13 December 2006, Pedro dumped the Action Congress to declare under the Labour Party, citing gross manipulation by Tinubu to favour a relative of his to become the Governor in 2007. On 30 January 2007, Femi Pedro named a University lecturer, Oluranti Adebule, as his running mate for the April 19 elections. Adebule, who teaches Islamic studies at the Lagos State University (LASU), is from the Badagry Division of the state. Solidarity and goodwill messages also poured in for Pedro from the various stakeholders in the party, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), teachers, pensioners, Hausa and Igbo communities, women's groups, students and youth bodies. [http://www.tribune.com.ng/31012007/news/news12.html]

He resigned his position as Deputy Governor after citing electoral malpractices in the Gubernatorial elections in which he participated and lost.

References

External links

* [http://www.femipedro.com Femi Pedro's Official Website]
* [http://www.tribune.com.ng/31012007/news/news12.html Pedro Names Adebule as Deputy Candidate]
* [http://www.thenewsng.com/modules/zmagazine/article.php?articleid=12503 Femi Pedro joins Labour Party, remains Deputy Governor]
* [http://www.nigerianmuse.com/articles/?u=Femi_Pedro_and_the_Labour_Party_Alternative.htm Labour Party Emerges as People's Alternative]
* [http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/jan/26/national-26-01-2007-05.htm Lagos Agog For 200,000-strong Labour Party Rally]
* [http://www.nationalmirrornews.com/mirror/content.php?section=19&readnews=19&story=4101&action=register_new Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) throws its weight behind Femi Pedro]
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200702010083.html Pedro Vows To Win Lagos Elections]
* [http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/allaccess/bob/10129121305.htm "Lagos Will Be Safe In My Hands"-Femi Pedro]
* [http://thenationonlineng.com/dynamicPage.asp?id=9088 Femi Pedro's New Politics]
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200701220705.html Pedro Unfolds Plan To Combat Crime]
* [http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=68302 Femi Pedro and the Challenges Ahead]
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200701170506.html Beyond Otunba Femi Pedro's Labour Party Outing]
* [http://thenationonlineng.com/dynamicPage.asp?id=8736 Labour Party sets up structure in Lagos]
* [http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/politics/january07/16012007/p216012007.html Pedro Meets With Trade Union Congress]
* [http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/powergame/2006/dec/10/powergame-10-12-2006-002.htm The Best Man For Lagos- Femi Pedro]
* [http://independentngonline.com/news/185/ARTICLE/19367/2007-01-21.html Femi Pedro, The Ace in 2007 Elections]
* [http://independentngonline.com/news/44/ARTICLE/19559/2007-01-23.html Femi Pedro's Labour Government Promises Lagos Police If Elected]
* [http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20061229273967 Femi Pedro's Urban Politics]
* [http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/politics/january07/23012007/p223012007.html Femi Pedro set to make history, promises "Lagos Police"]
* [http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=66620 The Paradigm Shift from Godfatherism in Politics]
* [http://www.lagosstate.gov.ng/ministry/DeputyGovernor/office4.htm Femi Pedro's profile at Lagos State]
* [http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200612105431837 Pedro set to dump Tinubu and AC]
* [http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2006/nov/241.html 2007:Tinubu vs Pedro?]