Anyaoku: 92-gun salute for diplomat par excellence

SIR: Is Chief Emeka Eleazar Anyaoku not one of Nigeria’s greatest human exports to the world? This is a rhetorical question because his impactful leadership of the Commonwealth of Nations between 1990 and 2000 had imprinted his name on our collective psyche.

In fact, this Shakespearean quote is made true in the life of the venerable Chief Anyaoku: Some are born great; some achieve greatness; and others have greatness thrust upon them. It is an incontrovertible fact that he achieved greatness through his works. 

But Anyaoku chose a career for himself for which he had a great aptitude, and which was a niche for him. He was a career diplomat. So not unexpectedly, in the second republic, he served, though briefly, as Nigeria’s minister of Foreign Affairs. Then, sadly, the military overthrew the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in whose government he served, cutting short his stay in office as Nigeria’s minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Later, he became the secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations between 1990 and 2000. While in office, he deployed his clout and the immense power at his disposal for the enthronement and deepening of democratic rule on the African continent. His vehemence in the condemnation of the Abacha military regime and the roles he played, though futile, to secure the release of Chief MKO Abiola from prison are well-known to us. 

And his fight for the extirpation of military rule in the world, his effecting of rapprochement between hostile countries, which are estranged from each other, and the critical roles he played in the dismantling of the Apartheid regime in South Africa have been sewn onto his mosaic of legacies. So his successful leadership of the Commonwealth of Nations guaranteed him a top place in the pantheon of world great diplomats. 

But Anyaoku could not have risen to the top of his career were he not well-educated. Born to middle class parents in Nigeria, he was among the first set of students, who enrolled for schooling at the Merchants of Light School, Oba, Anambra State. His painstaking dedication to his education guaranteed him success in the school, which paved way for his admission into the University of Ibadan. 

Like the eccentric but highly-gifted, poet, Christopher Okigbo, Anyaoku studied Classics at the University of Ibadan. Both Okigbo and Anyaoku are alumni of the University of Ibadan, which was affiliated to the University of London, then. His study of the ancient languages gave him a handle on many matters. And it cannot be gainsaid that his mastery of languages aided him in his climb to the top as an international diplomat. 

Although Anyaoku is a global citizen, he is not uprooted from the cultural milieu of his Obosi people. If anything, he is a perfect exemplification of the Obosi people’s adherence to their cultural mores and ethos. And he cherishes his home town’s cultural festivals, which coalesced to form Obosi cultural heritage.

Again, to further demonstrate his love for Obosi, his home town, Anyaoku built the Emeka and Bunmi Anyaoku Foundation Centre at Obosi. The magnificent edifice houses both a library and a museum, and was commissioned on January 18, 2024, a date that coincided with his 91st birthday. And the museum contains Anyaoku’s collection of artefacts, the gifts he received from world leaders, and honorary degree certificates given to him by various world-class universities. 

And he located Nigeria’s problems within the matrix and context of our flawed 1999 constitution. So he has been advocating the drafting of a new federal constitution for Nigeria and the discarding of the 1999 constitution, which is operative in Nigeria, now. The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerians, of which he is their leader, has been making strident calls for the discarding of the 1999 constitution and its replacement with a new federal constitution, too.
Here is wishing Anyaoku a happy 92nd birthday celebration, and many many happy returns.
Chiedu Uche Okoye, a poet, wrote from Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State.