Who is Chuba Okadigbo?

Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo (December 17, 1941 – September 25, 2003), was President of the Senate of Nigeria.

He was sometimes referred to as Oyi of Oyi in reference to his local government council area (Oyi); he also held numerous political positions in the Nigeria government. He was known to be opposed to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria, which was led by President Olusegun Obasanjo from the year 1999 – 2007.

After graduating in Washington, D.C., Chuba Okadigbo became Assistant professor, later adjunct associate professor of philosophy University of the District of Columbia, adjunct assistant professor of politics the Catholic University of America, and adjunct assistant professor of politics Howard University. He accomplished all these from 1973 to 1975.

Between 1975 and 1978, he became director-general centre for inter-discilinary and political studies, and a lecturer in philosophy University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also became a professor of philosophy Bigard Memorial Senior Seminary [Roman Catholic Mission] in Enugu State.

In 1979, he was appointed as a Special Adviser to then President, Shehu Shagari. At the dawn of the fourth republic, He was elected into the National Assembly (Anambra North) and he became President of the Nigerian Senate, after the impeachment of Evan Enwerem. However, in 2000, he was falsely charged of corruption and impeached, officially demoting him from Senate President to a senator.

In 2002 Okadigbo decamped to the All Nigeria Peoples Party to become Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in the 2003 Presidential elections, but lost to the People’s Democratic Party candidates (Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar) by a landslide victory. Because of possible mass rigging, his party later took the matter to the supreme court that year.

A day after campaigning in Kano State, He died in Abuja due to breathing problem; on September 25, 2003. Though, some people around Nigeria questioned whether or not the tear gas used during the rally was poisonous.