₦airaland Forum

Ex-Reps Speaker, Agunwa Anakwe passes on
 
By : Guardian Nigeria
 Date: 8 Jul 2025

The Speaker of the third House of House of Representatives, Agunwa Anakwe, has passed on following an undisclosed illness. He was 74 years old.

Anakwe, who was Speaker at 36 years of age, died on Saturday, according to the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor.

He was removed from office following the military coup that ousted Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government by former military dictator, General Sani Abacha, on November 17, 1993.

He opposed the agitation for the creation of more local councils at the time, which, though a legitimate aspiration, was pushed as a disguise to prolong the transition to democracy.

“He steered the House with a lot of dexterity, wisdom and patience, a situation that saw the House having more stability than its Senate counterpart before the military, led by General Abacha, struck on November 17, 1993, after the annulment of the Presidential election won by MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP),” Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra, where Anakwe hails from, wrote in a statement.

While paying tribute to the late Speaker, Ngige described him as “a close friend and trusted political ally.” He noted that, as Speaker, Anakwe displayed “dexterity, wisdom, and patience” in steering the House during a turbulent political period.

“He brought greater stability to the House of Representatives than what we saw in the Senate at the time before the military struck after the annulment of MKO Abiola’s election victory,” Ngige said.

The former governor also revealed that he was supported by Anakwe while challenging entrenched political godfathers and restoring civil service functionality in the state.

naptu2:
LIST OF SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES



Pre-Independence

1) Sir Frederic Metcalfe (12 January 1955 - January 1959)

2) Jaja Wachuku (January 1959 - 1 October 1960) National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)


First Republic


3) Ibrahim Jalo Waziri (1 October 1960 - 15 January 1966) Northern People's Congress (NPC)


Second Republic

4) Edwin Ume-Ezeoke (1 October 1979 - 1 October 1983) National Party of Nigeria (NPN)

5) Benjamin Chaha (1 October 1983 - 31 December 1983) National Party of Nigeria (NPN)


Third Republic

6) Agunwa Anaekwe (5 December 1992 - 17 November 1993) Social Democratic Party (SDP)


Fourth Republic

7) Salisu Buhari (3 June 1999 - 23 July 1999) People's Democratic Party (PDP)

8 ) Ghali Umar Na'Abba (23 July 1999 - 3 June 2003) People's Democratic Party (PDP)

9) Aminu Bello Masari (3 June 2003 - 5 June 2007) People's Democratic Party (PDP)

10) Patricia Etteh (5 June 2007 - 30 October 2007) People's Democratic Party (PDP)

11) Dimeji Bankole (1 November 2007 - 6 June 2011) People's Democratic Party (PDP)

12) Aminu Tambuwal (6 June 2011 - 29 May 2015) People's Democratic Party (PDP)

13) Yakubu Dogara (9 June 2015 - 9 June 2019) All Progressives Congress (APC)

14) Femi Gbajabiamila (11 June 2019 - 11 June 2023) All Progressives Congress (APC)

15) Tajudeen Abbas (13 June 2023 - Incumbent) All Progressives Congress (APC)

naptu2:
LIST OF DEPUTY SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

First Republic

1) Benjamin Uzoukwu Nzeribe (1 October 1960 – 15 January 1966) NCNC


Second Republic

2) Idris Ibrahim Kuta (1 October 1979 – 31 December 1983) NPN

Third Republic

3) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (5 December 1992 – 17 November 1993) SDP


Fourth Republic

4) Chibudom Nwuche (3 June 1999 – 3 June 2003) PDP

5) Austin Adiele Opara (3 June 2003- 3 June, 2007) PDP

6) Babangida S. M. Nguroje (3 June 2007 – 30 October 2007) PDP

7) Usman Bayero Nafada (2 November 2007 – 6 June 2011) PDP

8 ) Chukwuemeka Ihedioha (6 June 2011 – 6 June 2015) PDP

9) Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun (9 June 2015 – 9 June 2019) APC

10) Ahmed Idris Wase (11 June 2019 – 11 June 2023) APC

11) Benjamin Kalu (13 June 2023 – present) APC

naptu2:
LIST OF DEPUTY SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

First Republic

1) Benjamin Uzoukwu Nzeribe (1 October 1960 – 15 January 1966) NCNC


Second Republic

2) Idris Ibrahim Kuta (1 October 1979 – 31 December 1983) NPN

Third Republic

3) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (5 December 1992 – 17 November 1993) SDP


Fourth Republic

4) Chibudom Nwuche (3 June 1999 – 3 June 2003) PDP

5) Austin Adiele Opara (3 June 2003- 3 June, 2007) PDP

6) Babangida S. M. Nguroje (3 June 2007 – 30 October 2007) PDP

7) Usman Bayero Nafada (2 November 2007 – 6 June 2011) PDP

8 ) Chukwuemeka Ihedioha (6 June 2011 – 6 June 2015) PDP

9) Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun (9 June 2015 – 9 June 2019) APC

10) Ahmed Idris Wase (11 June 2019 – 11 June 2023) APC

11) Benjamin Kalu (13 June 2023 – present) APC

Pacesetter123:
Nah this same Rabbiu Musa Kwankwaso of present NNPP wey I dey see so for the list or nah him Elder brother or Uncle?
If he is actually the one,then why are people saying he should be picked as deputy to President Tinubu in 2027 presidential race and after that,he should take over as a president in 2031 when power will rotate to the north?
Give him president from 2031 to 2039 to do what and for what reason and at what age?
Wetin dem take swear for us in this country?
So when will we the present youths also climb such seats at the age of 36 like that his boss that just passed away or even him?

Owombakara:
This is a very valid point. It is the same Rabbiu Kwankwaso, also former governor of Kano state.
These men have been in the corridors of power for so long. It's high time they are retired. They don't have any new ideas to offer. Most of them are going into office because aside from government they don't know how to run any franchise its always about looting or surviving on government funds. If the trend is not checked, then there's absolutely nothing for the younger generations.

Unfortunately, time doesn't wait for anyone. The younger generation has a decision to make. Either remain docile, do not partake in politics and let these same old men run the country as a private property or they wake up and join politics and insist that votes will actually count for something and make the true change that this country desperately needs. We need new faces, new ideas and not the same recycled people from donkey years back.