By Francis Onyeukwu
The Immediate past governor of Anambra, Chief Willie Obiano has condoled the family of Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, who died in Abuja at the age of 77.
Mbadinuju who was Anambra governor from 1999, to 2003, reportedly died at the National Hospital in Garki, Abuja on April 11, 2023.
In a condolence message on Friday in Awka on behalf of Obiano by Mr Tony Nezianya his Publicist, the immediate past governor said: “I am saddened to learn of the passage of Mbadinuju.
The deceased, Obiano said did his best to grapple with insecurity, perpetrated mostly by ruthless, unconscionable robbers, who were armed to the teeth during his reign as governor.
He noted that the ex-governor did his best to curb the menace, though his methods were unorthodox.
“Mbadinuju was a brilliant student at the State University of New York, where he studied Political Science on a scholarship, ending up with a doctorate from Cornell University in New York, an Ivy League institution.
“On his return to Nigeria, he became a journalist and rose rapidly through the ranks.
” Apart from being the Times International founding editor in Lagos, he served in Anambra as the general manager of the state-owned Star Printing and Publishing Company,” he said.
Obiano who recalled that Mbadinuju later became the Director of Information and later a presidential aide in 1982, added that Mbadinuju would be remembered for his love of education.
” Mbadinuju established the Anambra state University, now known as Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, with campuses in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area, and Igbariamin Anambra East local government area,” he said.
Obiano praised the late governor’s vision of making the state a peaceful place, regardless of the insecurity at the time.
He added, “Anambra people acknowledge Mbadinuju as the governor that ended, within a couple of months in office, the almost intractable Aguleri-Umuleri boundary dispute, which cost many lives and other property for years”.(NAN)
