Agunwa Anakwe, who served as a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, passed away on Saturday at the age of 69 after a reported battle with an undisclosed illness.
His death was confirmed on Monday by Law Mefor, Anambra State Commissioner for Information.
Anakwe, an indigene of Anambra State, presided over the third House of Representatives in 1992 under the brief interim civilian administration led by the late Chief Ernest Shonekan.
His tenure, which began when he was just 36 years old, was cut short on November 17, 1993, by the military coup led by General Sani Abacha that ousted Shonekan.
During his time as Speaker, Anakwe was known for his firm opposition to the proposed creation of additional local government areas, a move he believed was intended to delay Nigeria’s transition back to democratic rule.
Former Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige, paid tribute to Anakwe, describing him as “a close friend and trusted political ally.”
Ngige praised Anakwe’s “dexterity, wisdom, and patience” in guiding the House during a turbulent political period, noting that “He brought greater stability to the House of Representatives than what we saw in the Senate at the time, before the military struck after the annulment of MKO Abiola’s election victory.”
Ngige also recalled Anakwe’s crucial support during his own governorship, particularly in his efforts to challenge entrenched political godfathers and restore functionality to the state’s civil service.
“As governor, he stood with me in the fight to behead the godfathers that held Anambra hostage under Gov. (Chinwoke) Mbadinuju. That era was marked by unpaid salaries and school closures—issues we quickly resolved,” Ngige stated.
Reflecting on their last meeting in March, Ngige mentioned that Anakwe was in high spirits despite his health condition and plans for major surgery.
“The camaraderie we shared that night lifted our spirits. We had no idea that death, ‘the biggest thief in the night,’ was lurking to take our friend and brother, Ide Anaocha,” Ngige lamented.
Ngige concluded by stating that Anakwe’s passing leaves a significant void in Nigerian politics, remembering him as a rare example of integrity and accountability in public service.
