My Dad Wouldn't Have Supported Biafra Agitation - Late Sam Mbakwe's Daughter Opens Up

 

While speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Newspaper, Patience Mbakwe, the first daughter of a former Governor of Imo State, the late Sam Mbakwe, speaks about her father’s life and political career

 

Patience who had been a Commissioner for Industry and Non-Formal Sector in Imo State, and currently a member representing Okigwe in the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board, also spoke on how her father earned the nickname, “The weeping governor” for crying while trying to convince the Federal Government to pay more attention to his state.

 

Here are excerpts from the chat;

 

 

Growing up, I knew he had friends like the now late Chief Collins Obi and the late Chief Evan Enwerem. But politics affected their friendship. I cannot explicitly state how the relationship started. Also, my father had as a role model, the now late Ngumezi of Mbieri, who played the role of a father and elder brother in his life. There was also the late Ahumibe. Politically, people like Nnamdi Azikiwe and Akanu Ibiam made positive impact on his life.

 

He immensely contributed to development of the country and this has kept his name high. For instance, he was a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1978 and during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha.

 

He also served on several national committees. He solely championed the “Abandoned Property” cause in Port Harcourt. This was because he did not understand why an Igbo man should relinquish his property anywhere in the country, as assumed that we are one Nigeria. He contributed to the birth of Second Republic which made the military restore power to the civilians. He played a very prominent role, among other things, in the creation of the old Imo State from the then East Central State.

 

 

His legacy was good governance. This has remained a yardstick in Imo politics. Politicians, especially governors say, ‘I want to rule like Sam Mbakwe’ and “I want to beat Mbakwe’s records.’

 

He would not have supported it because he always wanted a one and united Nigeria after the civil war.

 

He would have been disappointed with the slow pace and decay in development in the areas of politics, infrastructures and the economy among other things.

 

 

 

Well, every nickname is a nickname. Like my father was given, I felt it was in a positive direction, for the good and betterment of the old Imo State. As far as every right-thinking and progressive Imo man was concerned, the nickname was not bad. Remember he was in the minority, on the platform of the Nigerian Peoples Party.

 

He ensured that his administration earnestly earned the needed attention of the Federal Government. He was also moved by emotions as he was always emotional, when he visited sites with former President Shehu Shagari and seeing the conditions of the Ndiegoro people. There, he also cried bitterly.

 

Click here to read the interview in full.