July 07, (THEWILL) — A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Agunwa Anakwe, has passed away.
Anakwe, who hailed from Anambra State, reportedly died on Saturday after a protracted illness. He was 71.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, confirmed the news in a statement issued on Sunday.
Anakwe served as Speaker of the third House of Representatives in 1992 during the brief civilian administration of the late Chief Ernest Shonekan.
Reacting to his death, former Governor of Anambra State and ex-Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, described Anakwe as a “close friend and trusted political ally,” who displayed remarkable “dexterity, wisdom, and patience” in navigating the turbulent political climate of the time.
Ngige praised the late lawmaker as a shining example of integrity and accountability in public service.
“He brought a greater sense of stability to the House of Representatives than we saw in the Senate at the time, before the military coup that followed the annulment of Chief MKO Abiola’s election victory,” Ngige said.
Recalling their shared political journey, Ngige noted Anakwe’s support during his tenure as governor, particularly in resisting political godfathers and addressing the state’s crisis of unpaid salaries and prolonged school closures.
“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,” he added.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the political spectrum as colleagues and constituents remember Anakwe’s contributions to democratic governance and legislative development in Nigeria.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by the family.
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