Mbadinuju: Good Governor Wrapped in Bad History

Early in the week, news of the death of former governor of Anambra state, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju broke. David-Chyddy Eleke remembers the deceased as one of Anambra’s best, with good intentions for the state.

Most of the crop of governors that emerged in 1999, at the dawn of the nascent democracy in Nigeria, did not explore fully, the powers embedded in their offices.

Most of them were free, and because of the rot that the country witnessed under the military rule, they had the task of rebuilding their various states, and the challenges were enormous.

Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju was among such governors.

The news of the death of Mbadinuju was announced on Tuesday, by his family.

His son, Cheta Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Esq, who announced this on behalf of the family said: “With heavy hearts but utmost gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of our father, grand father, uncle, friend and associate, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a former governor of Anambra State and elder statesman.

“Odera as he was fondly called, passed peacefully at the age of 78 years on the morning of the 11th of April, 2023 at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness, surrounded by his family and loved ones. At this trying time, we pray for God’s grace and mercy upon him and those left behind to mourn him. His funeral arrangements will be announced in due course by the family.”

Mbadinuju, a man credited for his jovial attitude and free-mindedness became governor in 1999. For a state which was just eight years old as at that time, Mbadinuju, a scholar and former media manager was faced with the troubles of building a new state, with all infrastructures in place.

He had set out to achieve this, and had for a man who is very educated, many believed he came prepared for governance, and was credited for the commencement of some of the best infrastructural facilities in the state.

He was however unlucky and was caught in the web of the high power politicking in the state, and what many see as bad advisers, who formed the bane of his government.

In the history of Anambra State, since the return of democracy, Mbadinuju and Dr Chris Ngige, can be said to have suffered the highest level of political turbulence, during their reign.

For Ngige who was later to succeed Mbadinuju, he was kidnapped as some point and made to sign his own resignation.

But for Mbadinuju, the turbulence which his reign in the state witnessed was responsible for his inability to return to office, after his first statutory four years.

He formed part of the few governors at that time, who did not make it back to office in 2003. Besides that, his four-year reign was faced with challenges of all kinds, which included what many believed were political turbulence orchestrated by his godfathers, while the state also witnessed industrial actions by workers, which led to the closure of schools for about one year.

All of these were counted against him, and contributed to making him unpopular.

All of these militated against his tenure, but most unfortunately, even though he was credited for laying the foundation for many infrastructural facilities in the state, he was unable to see many of them to completion because of distractions, causing many in the state to refer to him as the very worst the state can ever afford to have.

While he was alive, many always associated him with bad leadership, without looking at the circumstances under which he failed to perform spectacularly as they hoped.

But upon his death, tributes have poured in from many, while some other people have protested the eulogies heaped on him, when he would have been easily eulogized, while he was alive.

Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, in his tribute commiserated with the family, while also sympathizing with Uli Community in Ihiala Council Area where he hails from, as well as the entire people of Anambra State for the loss.

Soludo said: “We note that the late ‘Odera’ will be fondly remembered for passing a law that created the Anambra Vigilante Services, establishing Anambra State University, Uli, among other legacy projects”.

While mourning him, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation expressed grief over his death. Acting President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, in a press statement described the late former governor as good man.

He said: “Mbadinuju played his own role in the socio-economic development of the state. Well, death is a due everybody must pay and you don’t know when. It is sad that Mbadinuju is dead, but I must say that he was a good man and he did a lot for the socio-economic development of Anambra State. We pray God to give him eternal rest and we console his family members to bear the lost with fortitude”.

Some Anambra people who commented on his passing praised him as a good man who was only a victim of bad company, referring to some of those who worked with him.

An Anambra indigene, Emma Okafor, said: “I’m absolutely sorry for this irreparable loss. While alive, Odera was good, and a gentleman, humble and humorous. Unfortunately, his administration was hijacked, suffocated and ridiculed by hoodlums who brought bad name and image to both the Government and the State. I pray God Almighty to grant him eternal rest and his soul a place in His Kingdom, the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.

Another respondent, Mr Victor Agusiobo, said: “Odera, may your good soul find entree into the Elysian Fields. Anambra’s most educated governor. You were a victim of bad company and substantial bad press as governor.”