Patrick Osakwe Explained

Patrick Enebeli Osakwe
Office:Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Delta State
Term Start:May 1999
Term End:May 2011
Successor:Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa
Constituency:Delta North
Birth Date:11 August 1948
Birth Place:Nigeria
Death Place:London, England
Nationality:Nigerian
Party:Accord
Alma Mater:University of Benin and Ambrose Ali University Ekopma
Occupation:Businessman
Profession:Legal Practitioner, Politician

Patrick Enebeli Osakwe (11 August 1948 – 15 March 2022) was a Nigerian senator who represented Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State on the platform of Accord Party. He became a member of the Nigerian Senate in 1999, and was re-elected in 2003 and 2007.[1]

Personal life

Osakwe was born on 11 August 1948. He was from Ugili-Amai in Ndokwa-west L.G.A of Delta State Nigeria. Osakwe obtained a B.Sc, M.Sc, LLB and BL from University of Benin.

He died in London on 15 March 2022, at the age of 73.[2]

Senate career

thumb|right|200px|Delta State in NigeriaOsakwe was elected to the Senate for the Delta North constituency in 1999.[1] In October 2002, when there was a plan to impeach President Olusegun Obasanjo, he said that senators should not sign the impeachment document without first consulting their electorates.[3] Shortly before the April 2003 elections, Osakwe denied being among the senators who endorsed the amendment of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) Act.[4]

He was reelected in 2003 as candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), despite a poor reputation for contributing to debates or motions in the upper chamber.[5] He was elected again in 2007 representing the Accord party. He was appointed to committees on Gas, Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions, Appropriation, Niger Delta and Senate Services.[1]

In a January 2008 debate over the proposed Freedom of Information Bill, Osakwe asked why the bill was not signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He noted that the act had to comply with the Official Secrets Act.[6]

In May 2008, the Election Petition Tribunal in Asaba struck out a petition against the election of the Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan and Patrick Osakwe.[7] The PDP candidate Mirian Comfort Ali had asserted that the Accord party did not validly present Patrick Osakwe as candidate for the election.[8]

In July 2009, Osakwe, Deputy Chairman of the Senate committee on Gas, condemned the "over involvement" of the Federal Government in the oil and gas sector at a Delta State meeting to discuss the National Gas Master Plan.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sen. Patrick Enebeli Osakwe . National Assembly of Nigeria . 31 October 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080607075218/http://www.nassnig.org/senate/member.php?senator=46 . 7 June 2008 .
  2. Web site: Gbagi mourns as Sen. Osakwe dies at 73. 16 March 2022.
  3. Web site: Senator Osakwe Tasks MPs Over Obasanjo's Impeachment . 2 October 2002. Vanguard . Sola Adebayo . 31 October 2009.
  4. Web site: Osakwe Denies Involvement in ICPC Bill Passage . Jaiyeoba Andrew . 20 March 2003 . This Day . 31 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090705233922/http://www.thisdayonline.com/news/20030320news29.html . 5 July 2009 . dead .
  5. Web site: Delta Senatorial Contest: The Actors, the Props . Eddy Odivwri . 18 January 2003 . This Day . 31 October 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20041227035901/http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2003/01/18/20030118pol03.html . 27 December 2004.
  6. Web site: FOI Bill Moves Ahead in the Senate . Media Rights Agenda . 31 October 2009 . 24 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080724162339/http://mediarightsagenda.org/mrmonitor/Jan_2008/foibsen2nd.html . dead .
  7. Web site: Tribunal Upholds Uduaghan, Osakwe's Election . 29 May 2008. This Day . 31 October 2009.
  8. Web site: Tribunal dismises Ali's petition against Sen Osakwe . 24 September 2008. Nigerian Observer . 31 October 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714183338/http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/24092008/24092008/news/national/news5.html . 14 July 2011.
  9. Web site: Six foreign investors indicate interest in Delta . 21 July 2009. Emma Amaize . Online Nigeria . 31 October 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120225040700/http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=6203 . 25 February 2012.