Alani Bankole

Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole is a Nigerian Egba businessman and chieftain from Ogun State. He is Chairman of West African Aluminum Products(WAAP) Plc. [cite news |first= Niyi |last=Odebode |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= MAN backs NIPC on investment issues |url= |work=Punch Online |publisher= |date=2007-08-16 |accessdate=2007-11-04 ] He holds the titles Seriki Jagunmolu of Egbaland and Oluwo Iporo Ake.

Education and personal life

Bankole is an alumnus of the Baptist Boys High School in Abeokuta.cite news |first=Dare |last=Folarin |title= It's 81 Years of BBHS! |url= http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2004/01/24/20040124ann01.html |work= Thisday online |publisher=Leaders & Company |date=2004-01-24 |accessdate=2007-11-04 ] Atinuke Bankole, Ekerin Iyalode of Egbaland is his wife, and Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representatives is their son.cite news |first=Ademola |last=Adeyemo |title= Bankole the Father…|url=http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=94032 |work=Thisday online |publisher=Leaders & Company |date=2007-11-02 |accessdate=2007-11-04 ]

Political career

Bankole was an Ogun State gubernatorial candidate on three separate occasions; [cite news |first=Yemi |last= Bamidele |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=My son won’t be a stooge –Bankole’s father |url=http://dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4307&Itemid=45 |work=Daily Trust online |publisher= |date=2007-11-07 |accessdate=2007-11-17 ] he ran on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979cite news |first=Fred |last= Okoror |title= Ex-ANPP chief, Bankole, backs emergency rule |url= http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2004/jun/14/168.html |work=The Guardian |publisher=BNW |date= |accessdate=2007-11-04 ] and again 1983, but was replaced by Soji Odunjo the latter year. He joined the National Republican Party (NRC) in 1989, and later became a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party. He became National Vice Chairmancite news |first= Moshood|last= Adebayo |title= Dimeji can’t afford to fail – Father|url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/national-02-11-2007-003.htm |work=The Sun News On-line |publisher=The Sun Publishing |date=2007-11-02 |accessdate=2007-11-03 ] and later acting National Chairman before leaving that party for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2000.

In 2004, he predicted a reorganization of Nigerian politics in which the ANPP, PDP, and Alliance for Democracy (AD) would break apart and the remnants would regroup as two parties. [cite news |first=Muyiwa |last=Oyinlola |title= PDP, ANPP and AD will break-up and fuse into two parties – Bankole, PDP chief |url= http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2004/jul/02/005.html |work= The Sun |publisher=BNW|date=2004-07-03 |accessdate=2007-11-04 ]

References