Anthony E. Oguguo Explained

Anthony E. Oguguo
Office1:Military Governor of Imo State
Term Start1:August 1990
Term End1:January 1992
Predecessor1:Amadi Ikwechegh
Successor1:Evan Enwerem
Nationality:Nigerian
Allegiance: Nigeria
Branch: Nigerian Navy
Rank:Commodore

Navy Commodore Anthony E. Oguguo was military governor of Imo State in Nigeria from 1990 to 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.[1] During his administration, Imo State airport was commissioned and built and still operates today. He very famously said "I saw money and looked away, it is not everything; we can all do the same and teach it to our children."

His administration took a strong hold with Trade Unions. In 1991, he demanded a list of absentee workers who were striking for a minimum wage of N380.[2] As governor, he commissioned the 100 bed Osina Community hospital in 1991.[3] He was a member of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), and was involved in the decisions about the transition to democracy, leading to the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic.[4]

He was a member of a coalition of Enugu State elders who spoke out against the government for alleged involvement in the killing of 14 Catholic worshippers at the Government Technical College in March 2002. They were protesting state action against a church leader.[5] In August 2002, he was an aspirant to be a governorship candidate for Enugu State on All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform.[6] By January 2003, the ANPP had still not settled on their candidate.[7] Anthony Oguguo and two others walked out of the primary convention over alleged discrepancies on delegates lists, and the remaining candidate Chief Fidel Ayogu was announced the winner but failed to win in the general elections.[8]

In April 2009, he transferred his allegiance to the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).[9] In October 2009, he was among PDP elders who criticized the actions of Enugu State governor Sullivan Chime in his feud with Joseph Onoh, son of the former Anambra State governor Christian Onoh.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nigerian States . WorldStatesmen . 2010-02-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20100123080256/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria_federal_states.htm. 23 January 2010 . live.
  2. Book: Nigeria, on the eve of "change": transition to what? . Karen Sorensen, Africa Watch Committee . Human Rights Watch . 1991 . 1-56432-045-6 . 41.
  3. Web site: About Us . Osina Community hospital . 2010-02-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130620224012/http://www.osinacommunityhospital.com/About.html . 2013-06-20 .
  4. Web site: Nigeria's Ruling Body . Xinhua News Agency Article . July 9, 1998 . 2010-02-12.
  5. Web site: Enugu Killings: Catholic Faithfuls Protest Vicar-General's Arrest . Vanguard . March 12, 2002 . Emeka Mamah & Chika Ugwunyi . 2010-02-11.
  6. Web site: Oguguo Tells Aspirants to Refrain From Political Killings . Ahamefula Ogbu . 21 August 2002 . ThisDay . 2010-02-11.
  7. Web site: Enugu ANPP Fails to Reach Consensus On Guber Candidate . Ahamefula Ogbu . 1 January 2003 . ThisDay . 2010-02-11.
  8. Web site: ANPP: Intrigues Over Guber Candidates . Chukwudi Nwabuko and Ahamefula Ogbu . 2003-02-18 . 2010-02-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050112073439/http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2003/02/18/20030218pol05.html . 2005-01-12 .
  9. Web site: Ebonyi Leaders Laud Decampments to PDP . Kenneth Ofoma . 21 April 2009 . Daily Champion . 2010-02-11.
  10. Web site: Enugu: Opposition Come Together Against Chime . October 4, 2009 . Lawrence Njoku .