Reps hold valedictory session for former Speaker Agunwa Anekwe

….resolve to immortalise Anekwe, each erstwhile Speakers from inception to date

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

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

The Speaker besides announced that the House would immortalise each erstwhile presiding officers by naming halls successful the National Assembly Complex aft them.

The precocious Anekwe, 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 stabilise the House astatine a clip of governmental uncertainty.

In his opening address, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, described the league arsenic a uncommon honour accorded to an exceptional parliamentarian whose beingness and work strengthened the legislative institution.

“This honour is not symbolic alone; it confirms that our past acknowledges those who strengthened the legislature done integrity alternatively than ambition,” Speaker Abbas said. “Right Honourable Agunwa Anekwe did not simply inhabit the bureau of Speaker — helium accepted the situation of enactment with humility, discipline, and a heavy consciousness of service.”

Abbas said Anekwe’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 noted that Anekwe’s enactment benignant combined fairness, restraint, and condemnation astatine a clip erstwhile the legislature functioned amid tensions 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 added. “He demonstrated that adjacent successful turbulent times, legislative bid tin beryllium preserved done patience and organization loyalty.”

Former lawmaker and subordinate of the National Burial Committee, Senator Osita Izunaso, recalled Anekwe’s relation successful defending ideology during 1 of Nigeria’s astir hard governmental periods.

“He fought and defended ideology erstwhile we had a adjacent diarchy — the subject astatine the enforcement level and the politicians astatine the National Assembly,” Izunaso said. “When the subject struck connected November 17, 1993, helium was determined to reconvene the House of Representatives. That determination led to the instant dissolution of the National Assembly.”

Izunaso described the precocious Speaker arsenic a steadfast believer successful nationalist unity and 1 of the cardinal figures who coordinated the June 12, 1993 statesmanlike predetermination efforts successful confederate Nigeria, which overwhelmingly supported precocious Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

“He fought for June 12 and defended that mandate. He stood for ideology adjacent erstwhile it was risky to bash so,” helium added.

In his tribute, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) said Anekwe, who hailed from Adazi Ani successful Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, was a antheral of bid and humility whose beingness reflected 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. Our radical revere him arsenic a antheral of bid and principle.”

Umeh further recounted however Anekwe played cardinal roles successful the enactment and enactment of respective governmental movements successful Anambra State, including his clip arsenic interim president of the Action Congress (AC), which aboriginal evolved into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“He managed the enactment with humility and built a coagulated governmental instauration that produced aboriginal leaders,” helium said. “Even erstwhile governmental godfathers tried to derail ideology successful our state, Agunwa stood steadfast for the people.”

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

Speaker Abbas, successful closing, prayed that Anekwe’s illustration would proceed to usher aboriginal generations of lawmakers.

“May past grounds that helium served with restraint, conviction, and purpose,” Abbas said. “May his representation proceed to animate this House and each who judge successful democr...