Little known to the general public, the man of Lebanese-Nigerian businessman has climbed the ladder in the business and diplomacy in Nigeria to build a fortune of over $ 4.2 billion and a network of influence throughout Africa, the Middle East and the United States. An impressive address book that helps him grow his business and those of its partners, and it is now putting the service of his colt to the Nigerian presidential Muhammadu Buhari. Focus on a gray eminence whose role could again very soon be decisive. By Alain Tchombe, responsible for International Development mission specialist on West Africa.
First steps in politics
Born in Lagos in 1946, Gilbert Chagoury is the son of a couple of emigrants, Maronite Christians, originating Zgharta in northern Lebanon. After studying in the country of his parents and an early career as a business in Nigeria, he went into business with his brother Ronald, more discrete, building in Cotonou (Benin) a mill which now produces 3,700 tons of flour per day. This marks the beginning of a great financial success that will lead to the emergence of a conglomerate of 10,000 employees, Chagoury Group, now active in the construction, real estate, telecommunications, health and tourism.
But this success is, however, offset by scandals related to his political and diplomatic activities. Chagoury was indeed Ambassador of Nigeria, and served as advisor to several heads of states in Africa like Benin Kerekou and Nigerian Sani Abacha. His collaboration with the latter, coup recidivist, earned him some trouble with the law in Nigeria (post-Abacha), but also in France, Great Britain and Switzerland. Worried but not convicted, Chagoury will come out without much difficulty.
Chagoury the inevitable
This episode shows perfectly the character's links with the Nigerian political class. Throughout the reign of Abacha, Chagoury multiplied bargains, becoming a must for Western companies wishing to invest in the Nigerian oil and gas. This is the case of Total , which has managed to win thanks to him in 1998, its main licenses in Nigeria, OPL 246. The company will still call him a few years later to assist in the case of Lebanese offshore.
Here too, Chagoury knows everyone, and does not hesitate to go to his little boost. After funding the Shiite party Amal Nabih Berri for years, he turned to General Michel Aoun, when the son of the latter, Gebran Bassil, was Minister of Energy .... And for some time, it finances Sleiman Franjieh, a Maronite Christian as he originally Zgharta, which is one of the leaders of the March 8 coalition (Hezbollah, Amal, Marada) in order, according to the Lebanese press , to unite minorities in the region face the threat of the Islamic State. Indeed, the organization of Chagoury "In Defense of Christians" was organized in September 2014 a major conference in Washington to educate policymakers and the American public about the fate of Eastern Christians. A total success, crowned by a hearing between Barack Obama and the leaders of the Eastern churches . Again, the address book Chagoury has done wonders.
"Clinton connection"
The businessman has very powerful friends in Washington: the Clinton. Chagoury relations with the presidential couple back to the years ninety, when it was the right arm of President Abacha and one of the relays of the Democrats in the White House with Abuja. Then follows a very friendly relationship, "consolidated" by holdings of lafamille Chagoury funding from the Bill campaign for his second term (1996), the Clinton Foundation and the Hillary campaign for the Democratic primary. Gilbert Chagoury also helps the former president to sell its conferences around the world.
In return, Clinton never misses an opportunity to associate its image to project Chagoury. As was the case in 2013 when he went to inaugurate Lagosson mega-site "Eko Atlantic" or, more recently, by insisting David Axelrod, former spin doctor of Obama for his AKPD agency agrees to advise the Nigerian party All Progressives Congress (APC), who presented the controversial Muhammadu Buhari as a candidate in the presidential election in March 2015. intercession that owes nothing to chance: Chagoury is an intimate among Bola Ahmed Tinubu intimate, a leading CPA and former governor of Lagos, home of Chagoury.
Ambitious, Chagoury is more than one way. A greed on which it seems difficult to affix a Manichean grid. If we can blame him serving nature of his maneuvers, it is clear that many activities contribute to Nigeria the first African economy, and address many jobs. In offering its services, Buhari has not done in half measures. As to sil'activisme of Chagoury enough to make him win the presidential election, after three defeats already impossible to tell. Nigerians will decide on 28 March.
http://ladiplomatie.fr/2015/02/16/gilbert-chagoury-portrait-du-milliardaire-dont-lombre-plane-au-dessus-presidentielle-nigeriane/
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