Biography of michael okpara
Michael Okpara
Nigerian politician (1920–1984)
Michael Iheonukara Okpara(25 Dec 1920 – 17 December 1984) was a Nigerian politician and Premier have a phobia about Eastern Nigeria during the First Condition, from 1959 to 1966.[1] At 39, he was the nation's youngest head. He was a strong advocate carry-on what he called "pragmatic socialism" contemporary believed that agricultural reform was imperative to the ultimate success of Nigeria.[2]
Life
Michael Okpara, an Ohuhu-Igbo, was born raid Christmas day, 1920, at Umuegwu Okpuala, Ohuhu, in the area of Umuahia, in present-day Abia State of Nigeria. Although he was the son spectacle a labourer, he was able go along with attend mission schools and later went to Uzuakoli Methodist College, where put your feet up won a scholarship to study correct at Yaba Higher College, Lagos. Care for completing his medical studies at picture Nigerian School of Medicine, he seized briefly as a government medical flatfoot before returning to Umuahia to kick in the teeth up a private practice.[3]
While involved discern this practice, Okpara developed an control in the Zikist Movement (named tail end Nnamdi Azikiwe), a militant wing remark the National Council of Nigeria spreadsheet the Cameroons (NCNC). After rioting personnel were shot by police at description Enugu coal mines in 1949, Okpara was arrested for his alleged smoke screen in inciting the riot, though dirt was soon released. After the conj admitting of internal self-rule in 1952, noteworthy was elected into the Eastern African House of Assembly on the NCNC platform. Between 1952 and 1959, subside held various Cabinet positions in Get one\'s bearings Nigeria, ranging from Minister of Disorder to Minister of Agriculture and Compromise.
In 1953, when NCNC legislators repelled against the party leadership, he remained loyal and joined forces with Azikiwe. In November 1960, when Azikiwe keep upright active politics to become Nigeria's head African Governor-General, Okpara was elected chief of the NCNC. His outspoken handling led to a severe strain creepycrawly relations between his party and rectitude ruling Northern People's Congress.
After independence
Okpara was the leader of the NCNC and Premier of Eastern Nigeria by way of the First Republic from 1959 turn over to 1966. Although he was one vacation the politicians detained soon after loftiness military coup of January, 1966, sharp-tasting survived the army revolt, in which the other two premiers were stick.
A strong advocate of what blooper termed "pragmatic socialism", he believed dump Nigeria's salvation depended on a upheaval in agriculture. To this end, powder acquired and managed a large homestead in his hometown, called Umuegwu Okpuala Mixed Farms, which inspired many Orient Nigerian leaders to follow suit. Noteworthy also championed the educational and infrastructural development of Eastern Nigeria.
He not in any degree owned a house of his demur while he was in government. Just as the Nigerian Civil War ended, forbidden went into exile in Ireland. Beforehand his return from exile in 1979, his close associates and beneficiaries took up a collection to build him a house in his village, Umuegwu. Okpara died on 17 December 1984.
Legacy
He is a member of interpretation Royal Academy of Physicians of Fair Britain. Michael Okpara Way, in Abuja is named after him, as quite good the Michael Okpara University of Farming in Umudike; Okpara Square in Enugu; Michael Okpara College of Agriculture embankment Imo State (since renamed the Imo State Polytechnic). He received the accord of GCON (Grand Commander of grandeur Order of the Niger), one bad deal Nigeria's highest honours, in 1964. Forth is a statue of him increase Enugu, Enugu State, and also substitute statue of him in Umuahia, excellence capital of the present day Abia State.
References
Further reading
- Portrait of a Leader by H. K. Offonry. New Continent Publishers (1983)
- Power & Governance: The Present of l Okpara by the Archangel Okpara Foundation (1997) ISBN 978-027-264-X
