Sam Mbakwe
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sam" Onunaka Mbakwe (1929 – January 5, 2004) was an Igbo
politician and governor of Imo State
, southern Nigeria
from October 1, 1979 until December 31, 1983.
The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport
, which is located in Owerri
, the state capital, was renamed after him. In 1981, Sam Mbakwe established Imo State University now known as Abia State University
.
Mbakwe began his education in 1937 at St Peter's primary school, Umulogho. His contemporaries include The Reverend Canon Jerimiah Anyanwu, the first Anglican priest in the old Etiti Local Government Area of Imo State, who was born at about the same time with him in Avutu. He studied at the Teachers Training College, Oleh, Isoko, from 1946 to 1947, and at Fourah Bay College
in Sierra Leone
in 1952. He moved on to the University of Manchester
(1953-1956), the University of Hull
(1956-1958), and finally the school run by the Inns of Court
(1958-1959), all in England, before returning to Nigeria to practice law in Port Harcourt, Eastern Region
. Mbakwe served as an Administrator of Okigwe Province in the Republic of Biafra
, an Igbo secessionist state in southeastern Nigeria, during the 1967-1970 Civil War
.
's military coup of December 31, 1983, which brought about the end of the Second Republic
. Described as "controversial," he said the following about politicians September 1995: "If you have not been in prison before, that will be your baptism and qualification. You will learn from the prison yard that not all those in detention are criminals."
Mbakwe earned the nickname "the weeping governor" for crying while trying to convince the federal government to pay more attention to his state; the first occasion of his famed tears was the Ndiegoro flood in Aba, which was then a part of Imo State. He had invited President Shehu Shagari to witness the destruction done by the floods, and it was said that he was moved to tears while conducting the president around the disaster area. His January 6, 2004 death in Avutu, Obowo Local Government Area
, came after a sickness which had set on in February 2002 and occurred shortly after a state-sponsored trip to Germany for treatment.
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
politician and 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...
, southern 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...
from October 1, 1979 until December 31, 1983.
The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport
Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport
Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport , also known as Imo State Airport, is an airport serving Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southern-eastern Nigeria. The airport is named in honor of a former governor and politician-philanthropist, the late Chief Sam Mbakwe of Imo State.-Facilities:The...
, which is located in Owerri
Owerri
Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of the Igboland. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 400,000 as of 2006...
, the state capital, was renamed after him. In 1981, Sam Mbakwe established Imo State University now known as Abia State University
Abia State University
Abia State University is one of the state owned universities in Nigeria. These state academic institutions were created to expand admissions and bring professional skills, expertise and modern research facilities close to the city and rural dwellers; and have helped talented students to obtain...
.
Early life and education
Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
in 1952. He moved on to the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
(1953-1956), the University of Hull
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
(1956-1958), and finally the school run by the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
(1958-1959), all in England, before returning to Nigeria to practice law in Port Harcourt, Eastern Region
Eastern Region, Nigeria
The Eastern Region was one of Nigeria's federal divisions, dating back originally from the division of the colony Southern Nigeria in 1954. Its capital was Enugu. The region was official divided in 1967 into three new states, East-Central State, Rivers State and South-Eastern State...
. Mbakwe served as an Administrator of Okigwe Province in the Republic of Biafra
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra . The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious...
, an Igbo secessionist state in southeastern Nigeria, during the 1967-1970 Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
.
Political career
Mbakwe joined the Constituent Assembly in 1978 and became governor on October 1 of the next year. One of the main priorities of his administration was to improve Imo State's roads. He was reelected, but his second term was interrupted by General Muhammadu BuhariMuhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
's military coup of December 31, 1983, which brought about the end of the Second Republic
Nigerian Second Republic
The Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
. Described as "controversial," he said the following about politicians September 1995: "If you have not been in prison before, that will be your baptism and qualification. You will learn from the prison yard that not all those in detention are criminals."
Mbakwe earned the nickname "the weeping governor" for crying while trying to convince the federal government to pay more attention to his state; the first occasion of his famed tears was the Ndiegoro flood in Aba, which was then a part of Imo State. He had invited President Shehu Shagari to witness the destruction done by the floods, and it was said that he was moved to tears while conducting the president around the disaster area. His January 6, 2004 death in Avutu, Obowo Local Government Area
Obowo
Obowo, also spelled Obowu, is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, and is headquartered in Otoko. Other towns in the LGA include Umulogho, Avutu and Umuokeh. Former Imo State Governor Sam Mbakwe was born in and died in Obowo. Obowo is located about 45 minutes from Owerri...
, came after a sickness which had set on in February 2002 and occurred shortly after a state-sponsored trip to Germany for treatment.