Anyim Pius Anyim

Anyim Pius Anyim (born 19 February 1961) is a Nigerian politician who served as the President of Nigerian senate and was Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) during Goodluck Jonathan presidency.[1] He was elected Senator on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform in 1999 for the Ebonyi South constituency of Ebonyi State[2]. He was elected Senate President in August 2000.[3]

Anyim Pius Anyim
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Ebonyi State South District
In office
May 1999 – May 2003
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byEmmanuel A. Azu
President of the Nigerian Senate
In office
August 2000 – May 2003
Preceded byChuba Okadigbo
Succeeded byAdolphus Wabara
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
In office
May 2011 – May 2015
Preceded byYayale Ahmed
Succeeded byBabachir David Lawal
Personal details
Born (1961-02-19) 19 February 1961
Ishiagu, Ivo LGA, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Political partyPDP
OccupationPolitics
ProfessionLawyer

Background

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 traveled to various parts of the world.[6]

In 1998 he joined the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), winning 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

Anyim took office in the Senate in May 1999, and was elected 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

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 own party. Some time after leaving office, his private house in Abuja was partially pulled down for violating the Abuja master plan. As a Senate President, Senator Anyim fought the sitting Governor of Ebonyi State, Samuel Ominyi Egwu, to a stand still and Anyim's village boiled. The conflict between the duo was so primitive that on a particularly low point, Anyim's mock coffin was paraded around Abakaliki, the state capital. 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. 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.[16]

Anyim was a candidate in the elections for Chairmanship of the PDP in January 2008. 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.[17] In January 2008, the League of Patriotic Lawyers supported his candidature.[18] He also gained support from the Peoples Democratic Party Youth Forum.[19] However, in the end Prince Vincent Ogbulafor was appointed PDP chairman.[20]

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.[21] He praised the Senate when they passed a resolution on 9 February 2010 to make Vice President Goodluck Jonathan Acting President.[22] In May 2011, Pius Anyim was appointed as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).[23]

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See also

List of people from Ebonyi State

References
  1. Vanguard news, Anyim appointed new SGF
  2. "SENATE PRESIDENCY: The Journey So Far". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  3. "BBC News | AFRICA | New leader for Nigerian senate". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  4. "Anyim Pius Anyim appointed SGF". Vanguard News. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  5. Maduawuchi. "Biography Of Anyim Pius Anyim: Former Senate President of Nigeria". Nigerian Infopedia. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  6. Waheed Odusile and Samuel Ajayi (2001-10-09). "'To Whom Honour is Due'". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 2005-11-29. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  7. "CNN.com - Nigerian senate president impeached after corruption inquiry - August 9, 2000". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  8. Emmanuel Aziken (9 January 2010). "What Will David Mark Be Remembered For?". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  9. Babajide Kolade-Otitoju (29 May 2001). "Ige Must Be Probed - Anyim". P.M. News. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  10. Amanze Obi (25 June 2002). "Anyim: Truly Ambushed". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  11. Tony Edike (9 June 2003). "Obasanjo Misunderstood Me - Anyim". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  12. Tunji Bello (19 August 2002). "Pius Anyim's Hypocrisy". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  13. Olorunnimbe Farukanmi (20 November 2002). "Anyim Vs Nzeribe, Another Rumble in the Jungle". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  14. Bature Umar And Kola Ologbondiyan (20 November 2002). "Senate Moves to Scrap Anti-Graft Panel". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  15. Shakirat Abdulmajeed (12 May 2003). "ICPC Act: Anyim Threatens Judge's Arrest". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  16. Duro Onabule (March 9, 2007). "Finally, a war Obasanjo may not win". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  17. James Ume (24 November 2007). "Kaduna PDP Canvasses Support for Anyim As National Chairman". Leadership. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  18. Adedayo Aminu (30 January 2008). "Why We're Backing Anyim for PDP Chairmanship Seat, By Yesufu". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  19. Osunde Adesuwa (16 February 2008). "PDP Youth Forum Adopts Anyim". Leadership. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  20. Ochereome Nnanna (9 March 2008). "Neither Anyim Nor Egwu - the Emergence of Ogbulafor". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  21. Emmanuel Aziken and Inalegwu Shaibu (21 January 2010). "Yar'Adua - Locals Suffer Unduly, Say Anyim, Mantu, 39 Others". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  22. CHIDI OBINECHE (February 10, 2010). "We're vindicated –Anyim". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  23. Vincent Ikuomola (31 May 2011). "Anyim is SGF". The Nation (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
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