One of Nigeria and by extension Africa’s most distinguished diplomats is Chief Emeka Anyaoku. A man of many admirable qualities, he is highly spoken of in good terms by family members and friends alike.
As a diplomat he was
the third Commonwealth Secretary-General a position he occupied for ten years,
from 1990 to 2000. He has also served Nigeria as its representative at the
United Nations.
As an Igbo elite he
serves his people as the Ichie Adazie of Obosi and has received several chieftaincy
title. What so many do not know is that Emeka Anyaoku played a key role in the
establishment of the Organization for African Unity (OAU).
Anyaoku has been
described as a disciplinarian and his proclivity for excellence, accountability
and competence.
Certainly, he has
contributed to the growth and development of Igbo land and has paid his dues as
far as his capacities could carry him. He sure deserves the honor and
appreciation of every well-meaning Igbo man.
Brief History
Chief Chukwuemeka
Eleazar Anyaoku was born on January 18, 1933 in Obosi, Anambra State. His
father Emmanuel Anyaoku was educated to middle school level; a rare fate at
that time in Igbo land.
His father worked as a
railway worker before he left for Kaduna where he worked in a hospital and
later became a catechist.
Emeka’s mother, Cecilia also from Obosi was the second wife of Emmanuel Anyaoku, who married her after he lost his first wife. The union was blessed with six children with Emeka became the first child after the loss of the first child, a girl that did not live.
Education
At seven he left Obosi
for Umuahia where he lived with his father’s only brother. It was in Umuahia
that he started schooling in a rural school in the community which had standard
four as the highest class. It was customary at that time as mandated by the
colonial masters not to go beyond standard four.
After his formative
education he moved to Oba, Anambra for his secondary education at Merchants of
Light School (MOLS). It was in MOSL that the culture of hard work and good
character was imbibed in Emeka and other students.
Emeka Anyaoku during
his secondary school days had been noted exceptional intelligence and
brilliance. He also exhibited unique leadership and great interpersonal
qualities. To some that knew him then, his achievements is not a surprise as he
was always logical and had a penchant for issue based discussions.
At the Cambridge School
Certificate examination that he sat for with other students, Emeka earned the
school’s first grade pass, the highest level.
In 1952, Anyaoku moved
to Emmanuel College in Owerri, where he worked as a teacher in the school. As a
young vibrant teacher he taught mathematics, Latin and English and was
particularly loved by his students.
Mid 1954, he left the
college and proceeded to the University College, Ibadan. At this time the city
of Ibadan was a hot-bed for political discussions given that Nigeria was on the
path to independence.
The university also
served as a focal point for diverse political activists and views which
incidentally rubbed off on the students. Emeka Anyaoku then the student union
leader as well as other like-minded students found themselves enmeshed and
involved in the political activism of the day.
Anyaoku Joins
CommonWealth
In 1959, he obtained a
London University Honours Degree in Classics as it was then known. He
afterwards joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation CDC in Lagos.
His selection as an Executive Trainee to the headquarters of the corporation in London perhaps marked the beginning of who and what he later became in life. He went for a course at the Royal Institute for Public Administration and later came back to Lagos in December 1960. Meanwhile Nigeria had successfully fought and gained independence for British rule on October 1, 1960.
On November 10, 1962,
he married Princess Olubunmi Solanke. He made met her the previous year at a
bachelor’s eve party he and his flatmate had organized for a friend.
The union between Emeka
and Bunmi is blessed with four children; three boys and a girl.
Anyaoku’s diplomatic
Journey
His chance meeting with
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Belewa Prime Minister of Nigeria in 1962 paved way for him
to join the Nigerian Foreign Service. He had the opportunity of meeting Belewa
when his boss at the CDC paid a visit to the Prime Minister to brief him on the
activities of the organization in Nigeria.
Anyaoku’s intelligence
and brilliance was not lost on Tafawa as he answered questions regarding their
operations in Nigeria. Thus he convinced Anyaoku to join the Nigerian Foreign
Service.
After attending series
of interviews in April 1962, he was appointed Personal assistant to the
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for External Affairs.
He played significant
roles in the process that led to the establishment of the Organization of African
Unity in1963.
Consequently when
Nigeria gained independence he joined Nigeria’s diplomatic service. His first
posting was to the United Nations in New York.
By 1966 he was
Assistant Director of International Affairs with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
This coincided with the Nigeria-Biafra war which resulted in calls from the
military government of Nigeria to seek his recall. This was however rejected
being he had already resigned from the Nigerian Foreign Service.
Being of Biafra
origins, during the Nigeria-Biafra war he tried his possible best as a diplomat
to broker peace between the warring parties. He left his comfort zone in New
York to meet Gen Ojukwu.
In 1983 he resigned his
position from the Commonwealth to take up the position Minister of foreign
Affairs at the request of President Shehu Shagari. This was short-lived as Gen
Buhari coup evicted them from office on December 31, 1983.
The Commonwealth Heads
of Government elected him as Deputy Secretary-General in 1977. And on October
24, 1989 he was elected the third Commonwealth Secretary-General and was also
re-elected in 1993 for another five year-term.
His contributions to
enthroning peace in commonwealth member states cannot be over-emphasized. He
initiated and introduced the use of Commonwealth Observer groups to monitor
elections in member nations. This made accountability and acceptance of
election results by all parties involved in elections if adjudged free and fair
by the observers.
Achievements as
Diplomat
The Commonwealth has
been viewed as a post-colonial club which has little significance to
international governance. To achieve relevancy Anyaoku committed himself
towards finding for the organization a decolonial role.
He championed and
vigorously campaigned for the establishment of true democracy in South Africa
when he went back to his position at the commonwealth. He spoke at various
foray against apartheid and called for the release of Mandela.
He collaborated with
African nationalist leaders in dismantling the chains of Apartheid. Using his
negotiating prowess he formed alliances with African nationalist to free the
black population in South Africa.
For his efforts he was
invited by Mandela to address the South African National Assembly in 1998.
His footprints were
also visible in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria. In the case of Nigeria, The
annulment of the June 12 elections won by M.K.O Abiola was roundly and out
rightly condemned by Anyaoku.
Similarly the case of
Abacha and Ken Saro Wiwa which brought Nigeria into disrepute in the comity of
nations. Based on these events Anyaoku formulated policies that led to the
suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth.
After a ten-year period
of meritorious service to the organization Emeka Anyaoku retired from his
position in March 2000.
Despite retiring and
aged he still continues to contribute towards nation building. He continues to
lend his voice to issues in Nigeria and the global stage.
His community is indeed
blessed to have a man like him and to honour him they installed him in 1980 as
the Ichie Adazie of Obosi.
Emeka Anyaoku is
married to Princess Bunmi and they have four children.
Lessons to Learn
Generations of
political leaders from Igbo land and Africa have a whole lot to learn from
Emeka Anyaoku. Learning the art of peace and application of wisdom in solving
real life issues especially when lives are involved.
His innate ability and
passion for peace can be buttressed with the bestowment of an honorary doctoral
degree by the University of Liverpool in 1993. He was described as the Healer
of international strife, a seeker after mutual understanding and a patient
negotiator.
Any nation without
effective leadership is bound to descend into chaos and strife. Emeka Anyaoku
is indeed an epitome and embodiment of what good leadership should look like.
To read more about other exceptional Igbo men and women that have contributed immensely to the development of our society, Get this eBook, Echoes of Excellence.