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Iyorchia Ayu

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Iyorchia Ayu
Ayu in 2023
Preceded byBala Mande
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
2021
on suspension since 24 March 2024
Preceded byPrince Uche Secondus
5th President of the Nigerian Senate
In office
5 December 1992 – November 1993
Preceded byJoseph Wayas (1983)
Succeeded byAmeh Ebute
Federal Minister of Environment
In office
June 2005 – December 2005
PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo
Succeeded byHelen Esuene
Federal Minister of Internal Affairs
In office
July 2003 – June 2005
PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo
Preceded byMohammed Shata
Succeeded byMagaji Muhammed
Federal Minister of Industry
In office
June 1999 – 2001
PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo
Succeeded byStephen Akiga
Federal Minister of Education
In office
1993–1998
Senator for Benue North-West
In office
5 December 1992 – 17 November 1993
Succeeded byJoseph Waku (1999)
Personal details
Born (1952-11-15) 15 November 1952 (age 71)
Gboko, Northern Region, British Nigeria
(now in Benue State, Nigeria)
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party
EducationUniversity of Jos

Iyorchia Ayu (born 15 November 1952) is a Nigerian politician; he is the current chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee.[1] A former Nigerian senator, he served as the 5th president of the Nigerian Senate in the Nigerian Third Republic (1992–1993).[2]

He later served in various ministerial positions in the Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.[3]

Early career

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Ayu was born in Gboko in Benue State. He taught sociology in the University of Jos in Plateau State, including courses on the art and science of Marxism, and was the chairman of the Jos University chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).[2]

After entering politics, he was influential among the majority of Tiv people in his home state of Benue.[4] He was elected senator in the Third Republic on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and became Senate president.[2]

In November 1993, the senate impeached Ayu, who was a strong opponent of the Interim National Government established after the elected president Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola had been prevented from taking office.[5][6]

However, he later became the minister for education in General Sani Abacha's military government.[2] In March 1994 he chaired a workshop on technical education in Nigeria, seeking ways to learn from Germany, the United States, Britain and Japan.[7]

Obasanjo Cabinet

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Ayu was said to be political godfather to George Akume, Governor of Benue State from 1999 to 2007.[8]

Ayu assisted in the 1998–1999 campaign to elect President Olusegun Obasanjo on the People's Democratic Party (PDP platform). Obasanjo appointed him Industry Ministry from 1999 to 2000.[2]

Ayu was appointed minister of internal affairs in July 2003.[9]

In September 2003 Ayu announced that Nigeria was negotiating security pacts with its northern neighbors Niger and Chad to clamp down on smuggling, human-trafficking and cross-border banditry.[10]

In June 2004 he inaugurated the Prisons Monitoring Committee to secure the rights of prisoners to acceptable conditions.[11]

In August 2004, Ayu said that his ministry had started the distribution of national identity cards.[4] The new card was to serve for identification purposes and for validation of other documents, such as passports and driving licences. It would also be a tool for controlling migration flows, generating data for government planning, and detecting crimes.[12]

During a cabinet reshuffle in June 2005, Ayu was reassigned to become minister of environment.[13]

At in a meeting in Rotterdam in September 2005, Ayu called for an effective, sufficient and predictable financial mechanism to provide the technical skills and infrastructure needed for African countries to handle chemicals safely.[14]

In October that year, Ayu called for fair access to UNDP/GEF funds, and for increased allocations to developing countries.[15]

In December 2005 he spoke at a conference on Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM). He praised the holistic, multi-sectoral approach of ICAM as a way to manage the regional ecosystem.[16]

In December 2005, Obasanjo dismissed Ayu, giving no reason.[17]

Other activities

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After falling out with Obasanjo, Ayu left the PDP and joined the Action Congress (AC).[18]

Head of Atiku's campaign

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He was head of the campaign to elect Vice President Atiku Abubakar as president on the AC platform in April 2007.[19]

Ayu's arrest

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In February 2007, Ayu was arrested and later arraigned by a federal court on charges of terrorism. He was later released on bail.[20]

In March 2007, he spoke out against the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include Atiku's name on the list of candidates.[21]

PDP's national chairman

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On October 31 2021, Ayu emerged as the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ayu, a consensus candidate for the position, took over the leadership of the main opposition party alongside 20 others elected into various positions within the PDP National Working Committee.[22]

On March 26 2023, Iyorchia Ayu who was the national chairman of the PDP, was suspended by the party. The suspension of Ayu was effected by the Ward Executive of the party in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.[23]

Bibliography

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  • Ayu, Iyorchia D. (1986). Essays in popular struggle. Zim Pan African Publishers. ISBN 978-2150-02-9.

References

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  1. ^ "PDP concludes national convention as Ayu emerges chairman". The Punch. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "PDP's Men of Power". This Day. 10 November 2001. Archived from the original on 2 December 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  3. ^ "The task before Ayu as consensus PDP chairman". Business Day. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Profile Of Ayu Iyorchia, PDP New Chairman". National Daily News. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Key Events in Nigeria (1990 - 2000)". Nigeria Exchange. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  6. ^ Oditta, Maxwell. "Politics of dissonance and duplicity". Dawodu. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  7. ^ "Technical Education in Nigeria" (PDF). Education Resources Information Center. March 1994. Retrieved 24 February 2010.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Nnorom, Uche. "Who would emerge as Benue senators in 2011?". Peoples Daily. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  9. ^ "July 2003". Rulers.org. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  10. ^ "Security pact negotiated with Niger and Chad". The New Humanitarian. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 4 September 2003. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Prisons monitoring committee starts work in Nigeria". Afrol News. 15 June 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  12. ^ "Nigeria: National identity card". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 5 November 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2010.[dead link]
  13. ^ "As Obasanjo Reshuffles Cabinet... Ministers Under Probe for Corruption". BNW News. 14 July 2005. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  14. ^ "Nigerian Minister of Environment Addresses COP-2". International Institute for Sustainable Development. 27–30 September 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  15. ^ "CCD-7 COP Highlights" (PDF). Earth Negotiatios Bulletin. International Institute for Sustainable Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  16. ^ "ACAM Workshop" (PDF). GCLME Newsletter. Guinea Current Large Marine Econsystem. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  17. ^ "Obasanjo fires Environment minister". PanaPress. 20 December 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  18. ^ Omipidan, Ismail (19 December 2006). "Obasanjo withdrew N20b from PTDF to finance third term —Atiku". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  19. ^ Amodu, Taiwo (22 January 2009). "Divided ...Atiku's political camp in disarray over former VP's visit to Obasanjo". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  20. ^ Uzendu, Malachy (9 March 2007). "Terrorism - Court Grant Ayu Bail". Daily Champion. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  21. ^ Edi, Jacob (26 March 2007). "Anarchy imminent if INEC disobeys court order – Ayu". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  22. ^ Ajibola, Akinola (31 October 2021). "Iyorchia Ayu Emerges PDP Chairman As Party Gets New National Officials". Channels TV. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  23. ^ Duru, Peter (26 March 2023). "PDP suspends National Chairman, Ayu with immediate effect". Vanguard. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
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