Pius Anyim, Quiet Operator Targets Aso Rock

From relative obscurity, Dr. Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON, thrust himself into political reckoning when, subsequent to his election as Senator in 1999, by August 2000, he had already become the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thus, at the relatively very young age, he had the responsibility of presiding over the country’s highest law-making body shortly after a long military interregnum that had consigned democracy and democratic attitude to a situation of suspended animation. How did he fare?

Given the chequered history of the period, coupled with the difficulty that weaning most of the political potentates of the period of their military DNA, it was not surprising that Anyim was caught by the same virus that culminated in the South-East geo-political zone producing five senate presidents in eight years. But there was something unique in his departure: he left on his own terms.

An innocuous operator who steals the thunder before his opponents know what is happening, he retreated into his shell, composed largely of his deep religious convictions, only to emerge like the proverbial sphynx again, as secretary to the government of the federation under President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. He held that position till Jonathan left office in 2015.

As the jostle for the office of President gathers momentum, he stands out as the first politician from the South-East geopolitical zone to openly declare for President. Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa who has similarly declared interest is a technocrat of the highest distinction; a consummate manager of men and resources and who, like Anyim, is an avid believer that, what God cannot do, does not exist.

The True Vision’s Editor-at-Large, Anthony Okechukwu examines the footsteps of the unassuming politician and unrepentant advocate of national unity.

DECLARATION 

In the early part of this year, posters of the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim flooded the social media and even the streets of Abuja, calling for the Ebonyi State born politician to vie for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Such an unsolicited gesture is not the first time that groups and individuals are clamouring for Anyim’s Presidential bid. In fact, there were such clamours in 2020 but the man at the centre of the matter, Pius Anyim felt it was too premature to make a move then. The politician kept quiet and kept his cool. 

However, Anyim came out from his shell, October this year, in Abuja declaring that he will contest for presidency in 2023 under the Umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not minding where it would be zoned to. 

According to Anyim, who was also a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the party’s national convention would signal the commencement of its political activities. 

HIS MESSAGE 

Anyim believes that the only instrument the Southeast can use to produce Nigeria’s next president in 2023 is persuasion. 

Speaking on the right of the South East as regards the presidency, Anyim, noted that producing the country’s president is not the exclusive right of the Southeast but something that has to be worked out through persuasion. 

Anyim asked: “Is it right for the South-East to produce the next president? My answer is legally no, and the reason is that the constitution is clear, the constitution says every Nigerian of 40 years is entitled to aspire for that office.

“On the other hand, morally is it right? Is it an entitlement? I will say yes because the federal character principle enshrined in the constitution encourages rotation.

“The reason I have to make this clarification is that when the right you have is not legal, the only approach and the instrument you have is persuasion.

HIS CHANCES 

The politics of the presidency of Nigeria is more complex than what meets the eye. But political analysts have predicted that the chances of South East are very bright in the 2023 dispensation, considering the fact that the South East zone has not had the opportunity for once, to taste the Presidency. Talking about the Presidency, what readily comes to mind are the right personalities in the South East that would be suitable for such a position. However, from all indications and judging from Pius Anyim’s pedigree, as both former Senate President, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a lawyer, he seems to be one of the most qualified aspirants amongst the South East candidates that have shown interest in the top job. 

For instance, Anyim is endowed with all the attributes of a 21st century leader: scholarship, intellect, integrity, inventiveness, and courage to envision and execute issues. This is in addition to his wealth of experience in government. 

Anyim is therefore, seen by many as a presidential material in the South East whose turn it is, (on an equity basis) to produce Nigeria’s next president in 2023.

Another factor that favours Anyim is the argument on Rotational Presidency. But beyond the rotation of presidency between the north and south arrangement, which seems to be the burning issue as 2023 general elections approaches, there are other critical factors that are relevant to the matter of who becomes the president of Nigeria in 2023. Such attributes have to do with a personality who possesses national stature, formidable financial resources and national name recognition. To many, Anyim has all the attributes mentioned above. 

Although, the word on the streets is that the fast-approaching 2023 presidential contest would as usual be a two-horse race between the ruling All Progressive Party, APC, and the main opposition, People Democratic Party, PDP, character and strength of the individual are equally important, irrespective of party lines. 

Geographically, it is also being predicted that the battle would be waged between the north and south. Coming to South, South East seems to be most favoured as the South West is already maintaining the Vice President slot in the person of Yemi Osinbajo. 

With PDP zoning the chairmanship seat to the North, there are sympathetic feelings that it would be better for the party to zone the Presidency to the south. However, the party is yet to align with such a position as there are indications that the party would throw its presidential ticket open to all the zones. 

CHALLENGES 

One major challenge that will always reverberate on the face of any Presidential aspirant from the South East is the issue of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB).

The thinking is that the agitation by the IPOB is a put off, instilling fear in other nationalities. Due to the activities of this group, many would not trust the Igbo and would rather not have anything to do with the people, let alone conceding the mantle of power to them. However, proponents of such a position ignore the fact that such agitation earned the south west the office of president in 1999. 

In addition, whenever the issue of presidency of Igbo extraction comes up, it becomes difficult to decide whether the southeast wants Igbo presidency, restructuring or Biafra. This places them, especially the politicians between the devil and the deep blue sea. 

Known for their individualism, most political leaders in the southeast are driven by selfish tendencies and this has affected the people over the years.

Another challenge is the tendency of disunity amongst the Igbos. Will a president of Igbo extraction be realised when the people are not united and cannot speak with one voice and on top of it, they are perceived to play bad politics?

Even though PDP had zoned the Presidency to the South, any South East candidate will still have to battle with those who have interest from the South West. For example, South West is gearing up for another turn in the presidency with a complete disregard for the South East. 

Indeed, the controversy over which region should produce the next president in 2023 is already an issue and every zone of the country seems to have interest in the issue.

In the same vein, the north plans to keep the presidency after the two terms of President Muhammadu Buhari just as the south retained the office after President Olusegun Obasanjo’s terms in office and President Jonathan’s fortuitous six year rule following the demise of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Will history repeat itself?

In addition to all these challenges, Anyim may have a fierce battle competing with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is gearing up with some people saying that he has an alliance with the ruling APC for power to return to the west through him in 2023. There are also Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the current vice-president; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, and former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun who are among those Southerners touted to have interests in the highest office in the country.

OPINIONS ON IGBO PRESIDENCY 

Not long ago, General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s wartime Head of State, said he does not have any problem if power shifts to the Igbo for the 2023 Presidency as long as doing so would enhance peace.

Answering a question on the agitation by south easterners that the Igbo should produce the nation’s President in 2023, Gowon said, “If doing so will bring peace, it should be done; if the people so desire.”

The General added that, “There was a time the PDP started rotational presidency, if that was continued, maybe the Igbo would have produced a President but that didn’t happen. If that can be done now, I don’t have a problem with it. Anybody can govern. There are many people in Nigeria, if God gives them and they will govern with the fear of God and love for Nigerians, we will make the desired progress.”

Adding his voice for the support of Igbo Presidency was Alhaji Tanko Yakasai who was amongst those that declared unequivocally that it should be the turn of the Igbo to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023.

Yakasai based his declaration on the logic that other regions and zones in the country, except the Igbo of the South-east.

Yakasai, in an interview said: “Nigeria had three major blocks. Two of these three namely, the North and the West have had the opportunity of producing the President. Therefore, Igbos have a good argument because out of the three siblings, two have already succeeded at producing the President but the Igbos have not.

“They (the Igbo) deserve the sympathy of all Nigerians for them to get it in 2023 or later.

My opinion is that this is not a matter that one will lie down and think that it will come to him. Effort is needed. How do you go about it? This can only be done by persuasion to convince other Nigerians about the need for an Igbo to emerge the President of Nigeria.

“I for one – I am in support of it. I did it before in the era of NPN (National Party of Nigeria) when we had the arrangement that the next president after late President Shehu Shagari would come from the East. We would have settled this problem long ago if not for the military intervention.

So, I spoke in support of Igbo presidency. I did not want to fix a date because I am not in position to do that. I said that the Igbo should go out and lobby other Nigerians and try to get their concern and support to produce the president in 2023 and where they are not able to do that in 2023, they will set a trajectory for them to produce the President next time.”

In his own reaction to the Igbo question, former ambassador to the United States and President of Ohanaeze Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor said: “The Igbo thing is not about the Igbo being president.  Who told you that if an Igbo man becomes president, there will be no more problems? If the Igbo man is partial, if the Igbo man is parochial, if the Igbo man is biased, then the people will also vote against him. What Nigeria needs is a great leader, a good leader. In fact, Nigeria has reached a point where the leadership of the country is not determined by where you come from but your ability in terms of what you can offer to the country, what you can do. If a leader is good, you don’t even ask where he comes from. Countries that have good leaders don’t even bother about where the leaders come from. But when a country has a problem such as we have and nothing is being done as quickly as possible as a response to the national crisis, then what do you think the people would do? 

An associate of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in the second republic and leader of the Igbo Women Assembly, Maria Okwor had this to say: “What we had in the past worked better for us. I’m talking about regions and the time people like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Awolowo held sway. Every region developed at its own pace and contributed to the centre. Now, the reverse is the case. They just gave you anything they liked from the centre. This presidential system that we operate today, I have always maintained that it is too wasteful and encourages corruption. See what is happening in our country: imposition of candidates and leadership failure. Nigeria has not got it right with leadership. Nigerians are not allowed to choose the people they want to lead them. They just impose people on the electorate and when they assume office, they don’t care about anybody except themselves, their families and friends. Some will even tell you that whether you vote or not, a winner must emerge. We have been battling with square pegs in round holes. That is the origin of our problems. The South-East is on the spot. The situation is dicey. Igbo cannot continue being slaves in this country”. 

BACKGROUND 

Anyim was born on 19 February 1961 in Ishiagu, a dominantly Catholic community in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.  He attended Ishiagu High School (St. John Bosco), the Federal School of Arts and Science, Aba and later, Imo State University, Uturu (1983–1987). For his Youth Service, he served as the Co-ordinator, Youth Mobilisation Programme in Sokoto State. 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 travelled to various parts of the world.

In 1998, Anyim joined the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and won 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

Anyim was elected into the Nigerian Senate in May 1999 and was subsequently voted by colleagues as President of the Senate in August 2000, after Chuba Okadigbo had been impeached, holding office until May 2003.

He was also Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and was in office from May 2011 to May 2015.