Anyim Pius Anyim

Anyim Pius Anyim
GCON
Secretary to the Government of the Federation
In office
29 May 2011 – 29 May 2015
PresidentGoodluck Jonathan
Preceded byYayale Ahmed
Succeeded byBabachir David Lawal
9th President of the Nigerian Senate
In office
8 August 2000 – 3 June 2003
DeputyIbrahim Mantu
Preceded byChuba Okadigbo
Succeeded byAdolphus Wabara
Senator for Ebonyi South
In office
3 June 1999 – 3 June 2003
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byEmmanuel Azu Agboti
Personal details
Born
Anyim Pius Anyim

(1961-02-19) 19 February 1961 (age 63)
Ishiagu, Eastern Region, Nigeria (now in Ebonyi State)
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party
Alma materImo State University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer

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 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]

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 fully 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]

  1. ^ Vanguard news, Anyim appointed new SGF
  2. ^ a b "SENATE PRESIDENCY: The Journey So Far". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b "BBC News | AFRICA | New leader for Nigerian senate". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Anyim Pius Anyim appointed SGF". Vanguard News. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. ^ Maduawuchi. "Biography Of Anyim Pius Anyim: Former Senate President of Nigeria". Nigerian Infopedia. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "CNN.com - Nigerian senate president impeached after corruption inquiry - August 9, 2000". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  8. ^ Emmanuel Aziken (9 January 2010). "What Will David Mark Be Remembered For?". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  9. ^ Babajide Kolade-Otitoju (29 May 2001). "Ige Must Be Probed - Anyim". P.M. News. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  10. ^ Amanze Obi (25 June 2002). "Anyim: Truly Ambushed". ThisDay. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  11. ^ Tony Edike (9 June 2003). "Obasanjo Misunderstood Me - Anyim". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  12. ^ Tunji Bello (19 August 2002). "Pius Anyim's Hypocrisy". ThisDay. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  13. ^ Olorunnimbe Farukanmi (20 November 2002). "Anyim Vs Nzeribe, Another Rumble in the Jungle". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  14. ^ Bature Umar And Kola Ologbondiyan (20 November 2002). "Senate Moves to Scrap Anti-Graft Panel". ThisDay. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  15. ^ Shakirat Abdulmajeed (12 May 2003). "ICPC Act: Anyim Threatens Judge's Arrest". Daily Trust. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  16. ^ a b "SENATE PRESIDENCY: The Journey So Far". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Nobody took mock coffin to Ugwuanyi's house – Enugu youths". The Sun Nigeria. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Redirect Notice". www.google.com. 12 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "PDP chairmanship race: A dark horse may emerge". Vanguard News. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  21. ^ James Ume (24 November 2007). "Kaduna PDP Canvasses Support for Anyim As National Chairman". Leadership. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  22. ^ Adedayo Aminu (30 January 2008). "Why We're Backing Anyim for PDP Chairmanship Seat, By Yesufu". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  23. ^ Osunde Adesuwa (16 February 2008). "PDP Youth Forum Adopts Anyim". Leadership. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  24. ^ Ochereome Nnanna (9 March 2008). "Neither Anyim Nor Egwu - the Emergence of Ogbulafor". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  25. ^ Emmanuel Aziken and Inalegwu Shaibu (21 January 2010). "Yar'Adua - Locals Suffer Unduly, Say Anyim, Mantu, 39 Others". Vanguard. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  26. ^ CHIDI OBINECHE (10 February 2010). "We're vindicated –Anyim". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  27. ^ Vincent Ikuomola (31 May 2011). "Anyim is SGF". The Nation (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  28. ^ "Pius Anyim Pius: Still Impacting His Milieu At 60, By James Ume". 19 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
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