Evan Enwerem
Encyclopedia
Evan Enwerem was a Nigerian politician
who served as President of the Nigerian Senate in 1999.
He was a member of the People's Democratic Party
.
, Imo State
, Nigeria
, on October 29, 1935. He obtained his bachelor's degree
from the University of Southampton
in the United Kingdom
.
between 1980 and 1983. He was elected governor of Imo State
in 1991 during the failed Third Republic
era of Nigerian government
.
Evan Enwerem was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1999 to represent the Imo-East Senatorial Zone He became the first President of the Nigerian Senate during Nigeria's Fourth Republic
. Enwerem beat his chief rival, Senator Chuba Okadigbo
, for the Senate presidency
on June 3, 1999.
Former Nigerian President
Olusegun Obasanjo backed Enwerem for President of the Senate against Okadigbo. With the support of the Obasanjo's allies in the governing parties, plus support from two Nigerian opposition parties, Enwerem easily defeated Okadigbo with 66 votes to Okadigbo's 43 votes.
Enwerem did not hold the post of President of the Nigerian Senate for very long. A Nigerian Senate committee began investigating Enwerem for allegations of corruption
in 1999. The allegations against Enwerem alleged that he falsified his name, and caused a controversy
as to whether Enwerem's actual real name was Evan or Evans. Enwerem was removed from office on November 18, 1999, in an ouster spearheaded by allies of Chuba Okadigbo
. However, though removed as President of the Senate, Enwerem remained a member of the Senate until 2003.
Okadigbo, Enwerem's rival and successor as President of the Senate, was in turn removed from office on August 8, 2000. Following Okadigbo's 2000 ouster, Enwerem briefly expressed interest in again assuming the presidency of the Senate. However, Enwerem withdrew from the race in favor of Senator Adolphus Wabara
at the shadow election conducted by PDP
Senators in Senate Hearing Room One.
Enwerem ultimately served as a Nigerian Senator from 1999 until 2003 before leaving office. According to news reports, Enwerem expressed an interest in "good laws" whose "ripple effects on the populace would be wide, sweeping and enduring."
in Abuja, Nigeria for some time. According to reports, Enwerem's family tried to make arrangements to transfer him to a hospital
in Germany
for medical treatment. The National Hospital initially refused his family's request, citing Enwerem's poor health.
The National Hospital finally relented and released Enwerem to his family for transfer to Germany on August 1. Lufthansa
, the only airline to fly from Abuja to Germany, refused to allow Enwerem to board the aircraft
due to his "very critical" condition. Enwerem was readmitted to National Hospital the same day.
Evan Enwerem died the next morning on 2 August 2007, at the National Hospital in Abuja at the age of 71. He is survived by his wife and seven children.
Current President of the Senate, David Mark
, learned of the news of Enwerem's death. Mark declined to formally announce the news to the Senate because most of Enwerem's family were out of the country at the time. The current Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives
, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh
, issued a statement through her adviser, Funke Egbemode, saying that Enwerem's death "would leave a gaping hole in the nation's legislative history."
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as President of the Nigerian Senate in 1999.
He was a member of the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
.
Early life
Evan Enwerem was born in IkeduruIkeduru
Ikeduru Local Government Area is located in the western part of Imo State, one of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was previously carved out of the Mbaitolu/Ikeduru LGA. It has its head quarter at Iho...
, Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, on October 29, 1935. He obtained his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Political career
Evan Enwerem served as chairman of the Nigerian Ports AuthorityNigerian Ports Authority
The Nigerian Ports Authority is a federal government agency that governs and operates the ports of Nigeria. The major ports controlled by the NPA include: the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port in Lagos; Calabar Port, Delta Port, Rivers Port at Port Harcourt, and Onne Port...
between 1980 and 1983. He was elected governor of Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
in 1991 during the failed Third Republic
Nigerian Third Republic
The Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1993 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution.- Founding :...
era of Nigerian government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
.
Evan Enwerem was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1999 to represent the Imo-East Senatorial Zone He became the first President of the Nigerian Senate during Nigeria's Fourth Republic
Nigerian Fourth Republic
The Fourth Republic is the republican government of Nigeria. Since 1999 it has governed the country according to the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Second Republic, which was in place between 1979 and 1983 and suffers many of the same problems, such as multiple...
. Enwerem beat his chief rival, Senator Chuba Okadigbo
Chuba Okadigbo
Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo , was President of the Nigeria Senate. He was sometimes referred to as Oyi of Oyi in reference to his local government council area ; he also held numerous political positions in the Nigeria government...
, for the Senate presidency
Presidency
The word presidency is often used to describe the administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation...
on June 3, 1999.
Former Nigerian President
President of Nigeria
The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
Olusegun Obasanjo backed Enwerem for President of the Senate against Okadigbo. With the support of the Obasanjo's allies in the governing parties, plus support from two Nigerian opposition parties, Enwerem easily defeated Okadigbo with 66 votes to Okadigbo's 43 votes.
Enwerem did not hold the post of President of the Nigerian Senate for very long. A Nigerian Senate committee began investigating Enwerem for allegations of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
in 1999. The allegations against Enwerem alleged that he falsified his name, and caused a controversy
Controversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
as to whether Enwerem's actual real name was Evan or Evans. Enwerem was removed from office on November 18, 1999, in an ouster spearheaded by allies of Chuba Okadigbo
Chuba Okadigbo
Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo , was President of the Nigeria Senate. He was sometimes referred to as Oyi of Oyi in reference to his local government council area ; he also held numerous political positions in the Nigeria government...
. However, though removed as President of the Senate, Enwerem remained a member of the Senate until 2003.
Okadigbo, Enwerem's rival and successor as President of the Senate, was in turn removed from office on August 8, 2000. Following Okadigbo's 2000 ouster, Enwerem briefly expressed interest in again assuming the presidency of the Senate. However, Enwerem withdrew from the race in favor of Senator Adolphus Wabara
Adolphus Wabara
Adolphus Ndaneweh Wabara is a former Nigerian senator who represented the People's Democratic Party in Abia State. He became a senator in 1999, and was president of the Senate of Nigeria from 2003 to 2005, he continued his tenure as a senator until 2007 when he stepped down.-Background:Adolphus...
at the shadow election conducted by PDP
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
Senators in Senate Hearing Room One.
Enwerem ultimately served as a Nigerian Senator from 1999 until 2003 before leaving office. According to news reports, Enwerem expressed an interest in "good laws" whose "ripple effects on the populace would be wide, sweeping and enduring."
Death
Enwerem had been in poor health before his death in 2007. He had been hospitalized at National HospitalNational Hospital Abuja
National Hospital Abuja is a hospital in Abuja, Nigeria.Maryam Abacha founded the institution. The institution was formally established under Decree 36 of 1999 . Abdulsalami Abubakar commissioned the hospital on 22 May 1999. Originally National Hospital For Women And Children, the hospital opened...
in Abuja, Nigeria for some time. According to reports, Enwerem's family tried to make arrangements to transfer him to a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for medical treatment. The National Hospital initially refused his family's request, citing Enwerem's poor health.
The National Hospital finally relented and released Enwerem to his family for transfer to Germany on August 1. Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
, the only airline to fly from Abuja to Germany, refused to allow Enwerem to board the aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
due to his "very critical" condition. Enwerem was readmitted to National Hospital the same day.
Evan Enwerem died the next morning on 2 August 2007, at the National Hospital in Abuja at the age of 71. He is survived by his wife and seven children.
Current President of the Senate, David Mark
David Mark
David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark is the President of the Senate of Nigeria and Senator for the Benue South constituency of Benue State. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party ....
, learned of the news of Enwerem's death. Mark declined to formally announce the news to the Senate because most of Enwerem's family were out of the country at the time. The current Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives
Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Federal House of Representatives of Nigeria. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the current speaker, was elected on June 6, 2011.-History:...
, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh
Patricia Etteh
Patricia Olubunmi Foluke Etteh was the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives from June until October 2007.-Personal life and education:Etteh, a Yoruba, was born on 17 August 1953...
, issued a statement through her adviser, Funke Egbemode, saying that Enwerem's death "would leave a gaping hole in the nation's legislative history."