Jim Nwobodo @ 80: Finally Settling Down

By Chuks Ekpeneru

Chief Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo has lived a varied life that has translated into different perspectives of his person in politics and other areas of his personal life. He is almost universally appreciated for his early success in football administration, especially in managing Rangers International to early glory in the early seventies.

However, his political strides have been a mixed bag of roses.

He found early success in politics using his success in Rangers International and association with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as platforms to win the governorship election in Anambra State in 1979.

As governor, Nwobodo established the popular Nike Lake Hotel, Anambra State Television, Anambra State University of Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), the Ikenga Hotels, the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Eha Amufu College of Education, Nsugbe College of Education and the Nkalagu Cement industry among other projects.

He ran for reelection in October 1983, but was defeated by Christian Onoh of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The election was marred by widespread intimidation, violence and vote-rigging.

His bid for re-election was especially derailed after the NPN successfully recruited Ikemba Nnewi, Odumegwu Ojukwu into its fold.

Nwobodo like many of the governors who served in the Second Republic was imprisoned by the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari after the December 31, 1983 coup.

Following his release and a period of relative inaction he ploughed back into national reckoning at the advent of the Sani Abacha regime.

As he progressed in partnership with the Abacha agenda, Nwobodo began to unbend from the fidelity that was earlier associated with his politics.

He moved from the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and later the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) as he became a sounding board for the Abacha transmutation agenda.

Following Abacha’s death and the collapse of his transition agenda, Nwobodo joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and became a godfather of the party in his native Enugu State.

Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani through his patronage emerged as the governor of the state. Nwobodo who had almost full control of the PDP in the state also got someone to stand for the Enugu East Senate seat while he made a bid for the presidential election in 1999. When he lost the presidential bid, the dummy, promptly resigned the Senate seat and Nwobodo entered the Senate through a special election.

Relations with Governor Nnamani, however, deteriorated and Nwobodo was forced to leave the PDP for the United Nigeria Peoples Party, UNPP.

Following the exit of President Oluseugn Obasanjo from power, Nwobodo returned to the PDP and has strayed in and out of the party since then.

Born on May 9, 1940, in Agyaragu, Lafia, Nassarawa State, Jim as he is popularly called, is fluent in Hausa, Ibo, and English language.

At 80 he has undoubtedly traversed boundaries but with agility going he can undoubtedly be said to be settling down and refining with age.

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