Okwesilieze Nwodo
Encyclopedia
Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo is a Nigeria
n politician who was elected Governor of Enugu State in January 1992 during the Nigerian Third Republic
.
Later he became a senior politician in the People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
Nwodo studied medicine at the University of Nigeria
, Nsukka
(1971-77). Between 1977 and 1980 he was a house officer at the
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu and at the Military Hospital in Jos.
He continued his studies at the Royal College of Surgeons
, London
(1980) and the Belgrade Medical School
, Yugoslavia
(1980-84), gaining an MB.BS in Medicine and Surgery.
He worked as a pediatric surgeon in Yugoslavia and then in Birmingham
, England
, before returning to Nigeria and taking a post as Medical Doctor at the Ukehe Medical Centre and Maternity (1984-1991).
Nwodo was elected Governor of Enugu State in January 1992 on the NRC platform during the Nigerian Third Republic
.
He held office until November 1993, when General Sani Abacha
came to power in a military coup.
He was twice elected Secretary General of People's Democratic Party
(PDP) in 1999-2001.
In October 2001 he was replaced by Vincent Ogbulafor as PDP party secretary.
He fell out with Enugu State governor Chimaroke Nnamani
in 2002.
In December 2003 the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission announced that it was investigating Nwodo and others in connection with a multi-billion naira bribery scandal related to the National Identity Card Scheme.
In 2007 he was awarded a national honor, Commander of the Niger, by President Shehu Yar'Adua.
In 2010 he was elected National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party.
In 2010 he was cleared of all charges on the Identity Card scandal.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n politician who was elected Governor of Enugu State in January 1992 during the Nigerian Third Republic
Nigerian Third Republic
The Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1993 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution.- Founding :...
.
Later he became a senior politician in the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Nwodo studied medicine at the University of Nigeria
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has four campuses – Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla – located in Enugu State and one in Aba, Abia...
, Nsukka
Nsukka
Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in South-East Nigeria in Enugu State. Other towns that share common border with Nsukka, such as Enugu Ezike, Orba and Obollo-Afor , Ede-Oballa, Uzo Uwani and Mkpologwu, now also claim the name Nsukka, hence they all collectively fall into the political...
(1971-77). Between 1977 and 1980 he was a house officer at the
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu and at the Military Hospital in Jos.
He continued his studies at the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(1980) and the Belgrade Medical School
University of Belgrade School of Medicine
The Belgrade Medical School is a constituent institution of the University of Belgrade, which offers a wide range of academic courses in Serbian and English, including specialist practice within a network of hospitals, institutes and medical clinics...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(1980-84), gaining an MB.BS in Medicine and Surgery.
He worked as a pediatric surgeon in Yugoslavia and then in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, before returning to Nigeria and taking a post as Medical Doctor at the Ukehe Medical Centre and Maternity (1984-1991).
Nwodo was elected Governor of Enugu State in January 1992 on the NRC platform during the Nigerian Third Republic
Nigerian Third Republic
The Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1993 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution.- Founding :...
.
He held office until November 1993, when General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
came to power in a military coup.
He was twice elected Secretary General of People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP) in 1999-2001.
In October 2001 he was replaced by Vincent Ogbulafor as PDP party secretary.
He fell out with Enugu State governor Chimaroke Nnamani
Chimaroke Nnamani
Chimaroke Nnamani is a Nigerian politician from Enugu State. He was Governor of Enugu State from 1999 to 2007 and is currently a People's Democratic Party Senator for Enugu East.-Education:...
in 2002.
In December 2003 the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission announced that it was investigating Nwodo and others in connection with a multi-billion naira bribery scandal related to the National Identity Card Scheme.
In 2007 he was awarded a national honor, Commander of the Niger, by President Shehu Yar'Adua.
In 2010 he was elected National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party.
In 2010 he was cleared of all charges on the Identity Card scandal.