Reps hold valedictory session for former speaker Agunwa Anakwe

…Resolve to immortalize Anakwe, each erstwhile Speakers from inception to date

…Say Anakwe was a pillar of Nigeria’s antiauthoritarian growth

By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives connected Thursday held a solemn valedictory league successful honour of erstwhile Speaker Rt. Hon. Agunwa Anakwe, recognising his contributions to Nigeria’s antiauthoritarian improvement and legislative history.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, announced that the National Assembly would immortalize Anakwe and each erstwhile presiding officers by naming halls successful the National Assembly Complex aft them.

The precocious Anakwe, who served arsenic Speaker betwixt 1992 and 1993 during the Third Republic, was remembered arsenic a antheral of principle, courage, and integrity whose enactment helped stabilize the House astatine a clip of governmental uncertainty.

In his opening address, Speaker Abbas described the league arsenic a uncommon honour accorded to an exceptional parliamentarian whose beingness and work strengthened the legislature.

“This honour is not symbolic alone; it affirms that our past acknowledges those who strengthened the legislature done integrity alternatively than ambition,” helium said.

“Right Honourable Agunwa Anakwe did not simply inhabit the bureau of Speaker — helium accepted the situation of enactment with humility, discipline, and a heavy consciousness of service.”

Abbas noted that Anakwe’s assemblage lying successful authorities wrong the National Assembly was a people of favoritism reserved for leaders whose contributions near a lasting imprint connected Nigeria’s antiauthoritarian journey.

He recalled that Anakwe’s enactment benignant combined fairness, restraint, and condemnation astatine a clip erstwhile the legislature operated nether hostility betwixt civilian politicians and the subject establishment.

“He recognised that the spot of a legislature lies not successful powerfulness for its ain sake, but successful the liable workout of authority,” Abbas said.

Former lawmaker and subordinate of the National Burial Committee, Senator Osita Izunaso, praised Anakwe for defending ideology during 1 of Nigeria’s astir challenging governmental periods.

“He fought to support ideology erstwhile the subject held enforcement powerfulness and politicians controlled the National Assembly,” Izunaso said.

“When the subject struck connected November 17, 1993, helium was determined to reconvene the House of Representatives — that courageousness reflected his content successful law order.”

Izunaso described the precocious Speaker arsenic a steadfast believer successful nationalist unity and a cardinal advocator of antiauthoritarian modulation successful the aboriginal 1990s.

“He stood for ideology adjacent erstwhile it was risky to bash so,” helium said.

In his tribute, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) said Anakwe, who hailed from Adazi Ani successful Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, lived a beingness marked by humility and integrity some successful authorities and successful backstage service.

“He became Speaker astatine the property of 36 — a man successful politics, ne'er associated with controversy,” Umeh said.

“He built bridges crossed regions and pursued nation-building with sincerity and moderation.”

Umeh besides recalled Anakwe’s aboriginal contributions to enactment enactment and grassroots governmental improvement successful Anambra State, noting his committedness to mentoring younger politicians.

Lawmakers and erstwhile colleagues described the precocious Speaker arsenic a stabilizing unit who combined intellect with integrity, leaving down a bequest of moderation, patriotism, and courage.

Speaking connected behalf of the Senate President, Senator Mohammed Monguno recounted Anakwe’s courageousness successful lasting up to the subject authorities of the 1990s erstwhile decrees sought to bounds legislative powers.

“As Speaker, Anakwe preached the gospel of ideology and championed it by starring the House to cull decrees that sought to undermine legislative independence,” Monguno said.

He besides recalled however Anakwe sponsored a delegation to the 1993 Commonwealth Conference successful Cyprus to asseverate Nigeria’s antiauthoritarian legitimacy.

“We addressed a satellite property league declaring that the National Assembly held the morganatic mandate of the people,” Monguno added.

Former Speaker Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara described Anakwe arsenic “a dove with the bosom of a lion,” praising his quality to navigate 1 of Nigeria’s astir turbulent governmental eras.

“He led the House successful an epoch erstwhile governmental ...