Chuba Okadigbo

Chuba Okadigbo
President of the Nigerian Senate
In office 1999–2000
Preceded by	Evan Enwerem
Succeeded by	Pius Anyim
Personal details
Born	(1941-12-17)December 17, 1941 Ogbunike, Oyi, Anambra, Nigeria
Died	Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Political party	People's Democratic Party

Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo (December 17, 1941 – September 25, 2003), was President of the Senate of Nigeria. He was sometimes referred to as Oyi of Oyi in reference to his local government council area (Oyi); he also held numerous political positions in the Nigeria government. He was known to be opposed to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria, which was led by President Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ from the year 1999 - 2007.

Biography

After graduating in Washington, D.C., Chuba Okadigbo became Assistant professor, later adjunct associate professor of philosophy University of the District of Columbia, adjunct assistant professor of politics the Catholic University of America, and adjunct assistant professor of politics Howard University. He accomplished all these from 1973 to 1975.

Between 1975 and 1978, he became director-general center for inter-discilinary and political studies, and a lecturer in philosophy University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also became a professor of philosophy Bigard Memorial Senior Seminary [Roman Catholic Mission] in Enugu State.

In 1979, he was appointed as a Special Adviser to then president, Shehu Shagari. At the dawn of the fourth republic, He was elected into the National Assembly (Anambra North) and he became President of the Nigerian Senate, after the impeachment of Evan Enwerem. However, in 2000, he was falsely charged of corruption and impeached, officially demoting him from Senate President to a senator.

In 2002 Okadigbo decamped to the All Nigeria Peoples Party to become Muhammadu Buhari's running mate in the 2003 Presidential elections, but lost to the People's Democratic Party candidates (Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ and Atiku Abubakar) by a landslide victory. Because of possible mass rigging, his party later took the matter to the supreme court that year.

A day after campaigning in Kano State, He died in Abuja due to breathing problem; on September 25, 2003. Though, some people around Nigeria questioned whether or not the tear gas used during the rally was poisonous.

References

CHUBA OKADIGBO: A big tree has fallen (1941–2003) - [1]

Nigeria: old wine in new bottles? - [2]

Nigeria: Corruption Timeline - [3]

Nigeria's senate president impeached - [4]