Recent from talks
Contribute something
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Anyim Pius Anyim
View on Wikipedia
Anyim Pius Anyim GCON (born 19 February 1961) is a Nigerian politician who served as the 9th president of the Nigerian Senate from 2000 to 2003, he was Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) during the Goodluck Jonathan presidency.[1] He was elected Senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 for the Ebonyi South constituency of Ebonyi State[2] and was elected president of the Senate in August 2000.[3]
Key Information
Background
[edit]Anyim was born on 19 February 1961 in Ishiagu, a dominantly Catholic community in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State[4] He attended Ishiagu High School (St. John Bosco), the Federal School of Arts and Science, Aba and later, Imo State University, Uturu (1983–1987).[4] For his Youth Service, he served as the Co-ordinator, Youth Mobilisation Programme in Sokoto State.[5] In 1992, Anyim became the Head of Protection Department at the National Commission for Refugees, Abuja, a job that included provision of legal services and political protection for refugees. In this capacity, he travelled to various parts of the world.[6]
In 1998, Anyim joined the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and won a Senate election. However, the death of General Sani Abacha on 8 June 1998 nullified the result. During the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, he joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and again ran successfully for election to the Senate in 1999.[6]
Senate career
[edit]Anyim was elected into the Nigerian Senate in May 1999, and was subsequently voted by colleagues as President of the Senate in August 2000, after Chuba Okadigbo had been impeached,[7][3] holding office until May 2003.[8]
In May 2001, Anyim declared that the upper legislative house was justified in probing the activities of the Mines and Power Ministry during the tenure of Chief Bola Ige.[9] In June 2002, an attempt led by Anyim to impeach President Olusegun Obasanjo collapsed.[10] Speaking a year later, Anyim said President Olusegun Obasanjo misunderstood him on certain issues but there was no conflict between them.[11] In August 2002, he said he was opposed to all the present office holders - including himself - going for a second term.[12]
In November 2002, Anyim indefinitely suspended Senator Arthur Nzeribe of Imo State due to an allegation of a N22 million fraud. Nzeribe was said to be planning an impeachment motion against Anyim.[13] The same month, after Anyim had complained about the Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Senate set up a committee to examine the continued relevance of the commission.[14] In May 2003, Anyim warned an Abuja High Court judge, Justice Egbo Egbo, that the parliament had the power to order his arrest over his opposition to the passage of the anti-graft ICPC law by the Senate.[15]
Later career
[edit]Anyim did not seek reelection in 2003, knowing full well that under Obasanjo's watch, he would lose and lose his deposit in the process.[2] Therefore, instead of contesting, he mobilised resources for ANPP candidates in Ebonyi State to challenge his party.[16] Sometime after leaving office, his private house in Abuja was partially pulled down for violating the Abuja master plan.[16] As a Senate President, Senator Anyim fought the sitting Governor of Ebonyi State, Samuel Ominyi Egwu, to a standstill and Anyim's village boiled. The conflict between the duo was so primitive that Anyim's mock coffin was allegedly paraded around Abakaliki, the state capital.[17]
As SGF, there was a palpable uneasy relationship between Anyim and the Governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi. Anyim's village was boiling, with several indigenes in exile.[18] He was appointed by the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan to head the Centenary celebration of the proclamation of Nigeria as a nation by colonial Britain.[19]
Anyim was a candidate in the elections for Chairmanship of the PDP in January 2008.[20] In November 2007, the chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the PDP said he would receive the votes of the entire Kaduna State delegation to the convention.[21] In January 2008, the League of Patriotic Lawyers supported his candidature.[22] He also gained support from the Peoples Democratic Party Youth Forum.[23] However, in the end Prince Vincent Ogbulafor was appointed PDP chairman.[24]
In January 2010, he led a delegation of 41 eminent Nigerians that called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to urgently transmit a letter of his incapacitation to the National Assembly to salvage the nation's democracy from danger.[25] He praised the Senate when they passed a resolution on 9 February 2010 to make Vice President Goodluck Jonathan Acting President.[26] In May 2011, Pius Anyim was appointed as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).[27]
Awards
[edit]- Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)[28]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Vanguard news, Anyim appointed new SGF
- ^ a b "SENATE PRESIDENCY: The Journey So Far". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ a b "BBC News | AFRICA | New leader for Nigerian senate". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Anyim Pius Anyim appointed SGF". Vanguard News. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Maduawuchi. "Biography Of Anyim Pius Anyim: Former Senate President of Nigeria". Nigerian Infopedia. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ a b Waheed Odusile and Samuel Ajayi (9 October 2001). "'To Whom Honour is Due'". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 29 November 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ "CNN.com - Nigerian senate president impeached after corruption inquiry - August 9, 2000". CNN. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Emmanuel Aziken (9 January 2010). "What Will David Mark Be Remembered For?". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Babajide Kolade-Otitoju (29 May 2001). "Ige Must Be Probed - Anyim". P.M. News. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Amanze Obi (25 June 2002). "Anyim: Truly Ambushed". ThisDay. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Tony Edike (9 June 2003). "Obasanjo Misunderstood Me - Anyim". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Tunji Bello (19 August 2002). "Pius Anyim's Hypocrisy". ThisDay. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Olorunnimbe Farukanmi (20 November 2002). "Anyim Vs Nzeribe, Another Rumble in the Jungle". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Bature Umar And Kola Ologbondiyan (20 November 2002). "Senate Moves to Scrap Anti-Graft Panel". ThisDay. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Shakirat Abdulmajeed (12 May 2003). "ICPC Act: Anyim Threatens Judge's Arrest". Daily Trust. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ a b "SENATE PRESIDENCY: The Journey So Far". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Nobody took mock coffin to Ugwuanyi's house – Enugu youths". The Sun Nigeria. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Redirect Notice". www.google.com. 12 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ Duro Onabule (9 March 2007). "Finally, a war Obasanjo may not win". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ "PDP chairmanship race: A dark horse may emerge". Vanguard News. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ James Ume (24 November 2007). "Kaduna PDP Canvasses Support for Anyim As National Chairman". Leadership. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Adedayo Aminu (30 January 2008). "Why We're Backing Anyim for PDP Chairmanship Seat, By Yesufu". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Osunde Adesuwa (16 February 2008). "PDP Youth Forum Adopts Anyim". Leadership. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Ochereome Nnanna (9 March 2008). "Neither Anyim Nor Egwu - the Emergence of Ogbulafor". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Emmanuel Aziken and Inalegwu Shaibu (21 January 2010). "Yar'Adua - Locals Suffer Unduly, Say Anyim, Mantu, 39 Others". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ CHIDI OBINECHE (10 February 2010). "We're vindicated –Anyim". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Vincent Ikuomola (31 May 2011). "Anyim is SGF". The Nation (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- ^ "Pius Anyim Pius: Still Impacting His Milieu At 60, By James Ume". 19 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
Anyim Pius Anyim
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Background
Education and Early Career
Anyim Pius Anyim was born on February 19, 1961, in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.[1] His early childhood occurred in a rural setting, where he began primary education at Obioha Primary School in Ishiagu before transferring to NKST Primary School in Zaki-Biam, Benue State, completing it in 1977.[10] [11] For secondary education, Anyim attended Ishiagu High School and the Federal School of Arts and Science in Aba.[12] He proceeded to Imo State University, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Honours degree in 1987, followed by admission to the Nigerian Law School and qualification as a Barrister-at-Law in 1988.[1] [13] Following his legal training and National Youth Service Corps, Anyim engaged in private legal practice. In 1992, he joined the National Commission for Refugees in Abuja as Head of the Protection Department, a role he held until 1997; responsibilities included supervising refugee eligibility determinations, providing legal aid to refugees, and liaising with international organizations on protection matters.[1] [14] [15]Entry into Public Service
Anyim Pius Anyim entered public service following his call to the Nigerian Bar in 1989, initially serving as Legal Adviser to the Directorate for Social Mobilisation (MAMSER), a federal agency established in 1987 to promote ethical reorientation and mass mobilization under the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.[1] In this role from 1989 to 1992, he provided legal guidance on policy implementation and administrative matters, drawing on his LL.B honors degree obtained from Imo State University in 1987.[1] From 1992 to 1997, Anyim advanced to Head of the Protection Department at the National Commission for Refugees, where he oversaw legal protections, policy coordination, and administrative operations for refugee affairs in Nigeria, gaining practical experience in federal bureaucracy and international humanitarian law.[1] These positions highlighted his administrative expertise and legal acumen, positioning him as a qualified candidate for higher public roles amid Nigeria's transition from military rule.[14] As civilian democracy approached under the Fourth Republic, Anyim ventured into elective politics, contesting the senatorial election for Ebonyi South Senatorial District under the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in 1998 at age 37; although he secured victory, the results were nullified following General Sani Abacha's death in June 1998, which derailed the scheduled transition.[1][16] In 1999, aligning with the emergent People's Democratic Party (PDP) during the restoration of democratic governance on May 29, 1999, Anyim successfully contested and won the Senate seat for Ebonyi South, motivated by a desire to represent his constituency's interests leveraging his prior public service background.[1][17]Political Career
Election to the Senate
Anyim Pius Anyim contested and won the senatorial election for Ebonyi South constituency in Nigeria's April 1999 National Assembly polls, securing the seat on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform at the age of 38.[18][17] This victory followed an earlier, unactualized senatorial nomination in 1998 under the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during the tail end of General Sani Abacha's military regime, which collapsed after his death in June 1998, paving the way for the transition to civilian rule under General Abdulsalami Abubakar.[1] The 1999 elections represented Nigeria's shift to the Fourth Republic, with PDP positioning itself as the dominant force by coalescing former military figures, northern elites, and southern interests into a broad coalition that captured 76 of the 109 Senate seats nationwide. In Ebonyi State, PDP's regional strength in the Igbo-dominated Southeast, bolstered by local support for Anyim as a native son and the widespread public relief at ending 15 years of uninterrupted military governance since 1983, facilitated his unopposed path within the party primaries and a decisive general election outcome.[19][15] Anyim took the oath of office alongside the inaugural session of the Fourth Senate on May 29, 1999, amid a legislature composed largely of PDP members eager to legitimize the new democratic order through oversight of the executive and constitutional amendments addressing federalism and resource control.[15] His entry into the Senate occurred against a backdrop of transitional challenges, including reconciling ethnic divisions exacerbated by prior annulled elections in 1993 and ensuring the independence of the legislature from executive overreach, factors that PDP's electoral hegemony was designed to mitigate through unified control.[1]Tenure as Senate President
Anyim Pius Anyim was unanimously elected President of the Nigerian Senate on August 10, 2000, at the age of 39, becoming the youngest person to hold the position in the country's history.[1][20] This followed the impeachment of his predecessor, Chuba Okadigbo, amid allegations of financial misconduct, and Anyim's selection as the People's Democratic Party's candidate after a party shadow election.[21] His election aimed to restore stability to the Senate, which had been plagued by leadership crises since the return to democracy in 1999.[17] During his tenure from 2000 to 2003, Anyim led the Senate in passing 65 bills and adopting 72 resolutions, focusing on legislative oversight of the executive branch and advancing democratic processes.[22][23] He worked to re-establish the institution as a stable defender of democracy, demonstrating maturity in navigating executive-legislative tensions and internal dynamics.[1][17] Supporters credit him with fostering administrative efficiency and resisting executive overreach, as evidenced by his handling of budgetary and policy scrutiny.[24] However, Anyim's leadership faced criticisms for perpetuating power struggles and internal wranglings within the Senate, with some observers attributing ongoing rancor to his style and perceived executive alignment.[25][26] Detractors argued that his emergence engendered apathy among certain regional factions, particularly northern senators, exacerbating ethnic and zonal tensions in leadership selection.[27] While Anyim defended actions like committee probes as necessary for institutional integrity, critics viewed them as driven by personal ambition rather than procedural necessity.[24] These conflicts highlighted the challenges of balancing autonomy with party loyalty in Nigeria's nascent Fourth Republic legislature.[28]Immediate Post-Senate Activities
Following the end of his tenure as Senate President in May 2003, Anyim Pius Anyim chose not to seek re-election to the Senate, a decision he described as a demonstration of statesmanship amid widespread reluctance among Nigerian politicians to relinquish public office voluntarily.[29] At age 42, he cited the need to prioritize personal and professional pursuits over continued political incumbency, marking a rare instance of self-imposed term limitation in Nigeria's emerging democracy at the time.[30] This move allowed him to step back from frontline politics temporarily, focusing instead on private endeavors.[31] Anyim returned to his legal profession, resuming private law practice in Abuja and engaging in farming activities as a means of sustaining himself outside government service.[1] During this period, he maintained a relatively low public profile, avoiding aggressive politicking while leveraging his experience for selective advisory roles within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).[32] Notably, he served on the PDP's Reconciliation Committee, contributing to internal party dispute resolutions without assuming elected positions.[1] In 2007, Anyim contested for the position of PDP National Chairman but was unsuccessful, as state governors reportedly influenced the outcome against his candidacy.[33] This engagement reflected his ongoing commitment to party governance reforms, though he refrained from overt campaigns or public confrontations, emphasizing behind-the-scenes influence over electoral ambition.[32] Through these years until 2011, Anyim's activities underscored a deliberate shift toward professional independence and measured political involvement, consistent with his post-tenure reflections on the perils of prolonged public office dependency.[29]Role as Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Anyim Pius Anyim was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 30, 2011, succeeding a career civil servant in the role.[34][1] He served until May 29, 2015, becoming the first non-career civil servant to hold the position, which entailed coordinating executive activities across ministries and agencies.[1][35] As SGF, Anyim managed key administrative functions, including channeling presidential directives and papers, processing government approvals for overseas tours by officials, and facilitating intergovernmental relations between federal and state entities.[34][36] The office under his leadership monitored the implementation of government policies and programs, serving as a central hub for policy coordination amid economic growth averaging approximately 5-6% annually in the early years of the tenure, though later challenged by global oil price declines and domestic security issues.[36] Anyim chaired the Presidential Committee responsible for coordinating all activities and programs for Nigeria's year-long Centenary Celebration in 2014, marking 100 years since the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria.[1] This initiative involved logistical and programmatic oversight for national events, highlighting his role in non-policy administrative coordination.[1] His tenure also encompassed efforts to address civil service conditions and state-federal coordination, though the broader Jonathan administration faced criticisms for inefficiencies in bureaucratic responsiveness during escalating Boko Haram insurgency and corruption probes, with the SGF's office implicated in overarching executive coordination lapses by detractors.[37][38]
.jpg)
