Iyorchia Ayu
Encyclopedia
Iyorchia Ayu is a former Nigeria
n Senator who was elected President of the Senate during the Nigerian Third Republic
(1992–1993).
He later served in various Ministerial positions in the Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
in Benue State
. He taught sociology in the University of Jos
, including courses on the art and science of Marxism, and was the Chairman of the Jos University chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU).
After entering politics, he was influential among the majority Tiv
people in his home state of Benue. He was elected Senator in the Third Republic on the platform of the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) and became Senate President.
In November 1993, the senate impeached Ayu, who was a strong opponent of the Interim National Government established after the elected president Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
had been prevented from taking office.
However, he later became the Minister for Education in General Sani Abacha
's military government.
In March 1994 he chaired a workshop on Technical Education in Nigeria, seeking ways to learn from Germany, the United States, Britain and Japan.
, governor of Benue State
from 1999-2007.
Ayu assisted in the 1998-1999 campaign to elect President Olusegun Obasanjo on the People's Democratic Party
(PDP platform).
Obasanjo appointed him Industry Ministry from 1999-2000.
Ayu was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs in July 2003.
In September 2003 Ayu announced that Nigeria was negotiating security pacts with its northern neighbors Niger
and Chad
to clamp down on smuggling, human-trafficking and cross border banditry.
In June 2004 he inaugurated the Prisons Monitoring Committee to secure the rights of prisoners to acceptable conditions.
In August 2004, Ayu said that his ministry had started the distribution of national identity cards. The new card was to serve for identification purposes and for validation of other documents, such as passports and driver's licences. It would also be a tool for controlling migration flows, generating data for government planning, and detecting crimes.
During a cabinet reshuffle in June 2005, Ayu was reassigned to become Minister of Environment.
At a meeting in Rotterdam in September 2005, Ayu called for an effective, sufficient and predictable financial mechanism to provide the technical skills and infrastructure needed for African countries to handle chemicals safely.
In October that year Ayu called for fair access to UNDP/GEF
funds, and for increased allocations to developing countries.
In December 2005 he spoke at a conference on Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM). He praised the holistic, multi-sectoral approach of ICAM as a way to manage the regional ecosystem.
In December 2005, Obasanjo dismissed Ayu, giving no reason.
(AC).
He was head of the campaign to elect Vice President Atiku Abubakar
as President on the AC platform in April 2007.
In February 2007, Ayu was arrested and later arraigned by a Federal court on charges of terrorism. He was later released on bail.
In March 2007, he spoke out against the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) to include Atiku's name on the list of candidates.
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...
n Senator who was elected President of the Senate during the Nigerian 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 :...
(1992–1993).
He later served in various Ministerial positions in the Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
Early career
Ayu was born in GbokoGboko
Gboko is a town in the Benue State of North-central Nigeria. The population is over 500,000, mostly Tiv people. It is the traditional capital of the Tiv tribe and it has the official residence of the Tor-Tiv, who is the paramount traditional ruler of the Tiv people spread in Benue, Taraba, Plateau...
in Benue State
Benue State
Benue is a state in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 2.8 million in 1991. Tiv, Idoma, and Igede are spoken predominantly. There are other ethnic groups as well. These include Etulo and Abakwa...
. He taught sociology in the University of Jos
University of Jos
The University of Jos, abbreviated as Unijos, is a federal university in Jos, Plateau State, central Nigeria. The school offers courses in law, medicine, pharmacy, natural sciences, social sciences, the built environment as well as arts and humanities....
, including courses on the art and science of Marxism, and was the Chairman of the Jos University chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities
Academic Staff Union of Universities
The Academic Staff Union of Universities is a Nigerian union of university academic staff, founded in 1978, with a history of militant action.-Foundation:...
(ASUU).
After entering politics, he was influential among the majority Tiv
Tiv
Tiv are an ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in West Africa. They constitute approximately 2.5% of Nigeria's total population, and number over 5.6 million individuals throughout Nigeria and Cameroon. The Tiv are the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Tiv language is spoken by about 6...
people in his home state of Benue. He was elected Senator in the Third Republic on the platform of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The Social Democratic Party of Nigeria, popularly known as SDP, was a political party created to encompass the ideals of a center left political organization. It was one of the products of a democracy project by former President Ibrahim Babangida to have two detribalized political parties, one a...
(SDP) and became Senate President.
In November 1993, the senate impeached Ayu, who was a strong opponent of the Interim National Government established after the elected president Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola, was a popular Nigerian Yoruba businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Egba clan...
had been prevented from taking office.
However, he later became the Minister for Education in General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
's military government.
In March 1994 he chaired a workshop on Technical Education in Nigeria, seeking ways to learn from Germany, the United States, Britain and Japan.
Obasanjo cabinet
Ayu was said to be political godfather of George AkumeGeorge Akume
George Akume is a Nigerian politician, a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party . He was governor of Benue State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007 and was then elected to the Senate....
, governor of Benue State
Benue State
Benue is a state in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 2.8 million in 1991. Tiv, Idoma, and Igede are spoken predominantly. There are other ethnic groups as well. These include Etulo and Abakwa...
from 1999-2007.
Ayu assisted in the 1998-1999 campaign to elect President Olusegun Obasanjo on 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...
(PDP platform).
Obasanjo appointed him Industry Ministry from 1999-2000.
Ayu was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs in July 2003.
In September 2003 Ayu announced that Nigeria was negotiating security pacts with its northern neighbors Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
to clamp down on smuggling, human-trafficking and cross border banditry.
In June 2004 he inaugurated the Prisons Monitoring Committee to secure the rights of prisoners to acceptable conditions.
In August 2004, Ayu said that his ministry had started the distribution of national identity cards. The new card was to serve for identification purposes and for validation of other documents, such as passports and driver's licences. It would also be a tool for controlling migration flows, generating data for government planning, and detecting crimes.
During a cabinet reshuffle in June 2005, Ayu was reassigned to become Minister of Environment.
At a meeting in Rotterdam in September 2005, Ayu called for an effective, sufficient and predictable financial mechanism to provide the technical skills and infrastructure needed for African countries to handle chemicals safely.
In October that year Ayu called for fair access to UNDP/GEF
Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility unites 182 member governments — in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector — to address global environmental issues....
funds, and for increased allocations to developing countries.
In December 2005 he spoke at a conference on Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM). He praised the holistic, multi-sectoral approach of ICAM as a way to manage the regional ecosystem.
In December 2005, Obasanjo dismissed Ayu, giving no reason.
Later career
After falling out with Obasanjo, Ayu left the PDP and joined the Action CongressAction Congress
The Action Congress of Nigeria , formerly known as Action Congress , is a classical liberal Nigerian political party formed via the merger of the Alliance for Democracy, the Justice Party, the Advance Congress of Democrats, and several other minor political parties in September 2006. The party...
(AC).
He was head of the campaign to elect Vice President Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alias Turakin Adamawa, GCON was the Vice-President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is a Muslim native of Adamawa State, and was an influential member of the ruling People's Democratic Party until 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party...
as President on the AC platform in April 2007.
In February 2007, Ayu was arrested and later arraigned by a Federal court on charges of terrorism. He was later released on bail.
In March 2007, he spoke out against the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission
Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
(INEC) to include Atiku's name on the list of candidates.