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Actor biography

Michael Okpara

Nigerian politician (1920–1984)

Michael Iheonukara Okpara(25 December 1920 – 17 Dec 1984) was a Nigerian stateswoman and Premier of Eastern Nigeria during the First Republic, stick up 1959 to 1966.[1] At 39, he was the nation's youngest premier. He was a sinewy advocate of what he dubbed "pragmatic socialism" and believed desert agricultural reform was crucial collect the ultimate success of Nigeria.[2]

Life

Michael Okpara, an Ohuhu-Igbo, was provincial on Christmas day, 1920, be given Umuegwu Okpuala, Ohuhu, in interpretation area of Umuahia, in coeval Abia State of Nigeria.

Even though he was the son splash a labourer, he was unsavoury to attend mission schools person in charge later went to Uzuakoli Wesleyan College, where he won on the rocks scholarship to study medicine concede defeat Yaba Higher College, Lagos. Sustenance completing his medical studies force the Nigerian School of Care, he worked briefly as deft government medical officer before continual to Umuahia to set build up a private practice.[3]

While involved all the rage this practice, Okpara developed erior interest in the Zikist Desire (named after Nnamdi Azikiwe), organized militant wing of the Governmental Council of Nigeria and significance Cameroons (NCNC).

After rioting employees were shot by police make certain the Enugu coal mines etch 1949, Okpara was arrested hold his alleged complicity in spurring the riot, though he was soon released. After the assuming of internal self-rule in 1952, he was elected into primacy Eastern Nigerian House of Body on the NCNC platform. Betwixt 1952 and 1959, he set aside various Cabinet positions in Orientate Nigeria, ranging from Minister influence Health to Minister of Farming and Production.

In 1953, considering that NCNC legislators revolted against grandeur party leadership, he remained trustworthy and joined forces with Azikiwe. In November 1960, when Azikiwe left active politics to understand Nigeria's first African Governor-General, Okpara was elected leader of say publicly NCNC.

His outspoken manner well built to a severe strain sight relations between his party stomach the ruling Northern People's Sitting.

After independence

Okpara was the governor of the NCNC and Head of Eastern Nigeria during depiction First Republic from 1959 unnoticeably 1966. Although he was lone of the politicians detained in a short time after the military coup advice January, 1966, he survived honesty army revolt, in which rank other two premiers were attach.

A strong advocate of what he termed "pragmatic socialism", perform believed that Nigeria's salvation depended on a revolution in cultivation. To this end, he transmitted copied and managed a large grange in his hometown, called Umuegwu Okpuala Mixed Farms, which outstanding many Eastern Nigerian leaders imagine follow suit. He also championed the educational and infrastructural get up of Eastern Nigeria.

He not at any time owned a house of surmount own while he was scheduled government. When the Nigerian Civilian War ended, he went go-slow exile in Ireland. Before climax return from exile in 1979, his close associates and beneficiaries took up a collection run on build him a house select by ballot his village, Umuegwu. Okpara dull on 17 December 1984.

Legacy

He is a member of nobility Royal Academy of Physicians longedfor Great Britain. Michael Okpara Arise, in Abuja is named fend for him, as is the Archangel Okpara University of Agriculture uncover Umudike; Okpara Square in Enugu; Michael Okpara College of Husbandry in Imo State (since renamed the Imo State Polytechnic).

Bankruptcy received the award of GCON (Grand Commander of the Succession of the Niger), one unscrew Nigeria's highest honours, in 1964. There is a statue assert him in Enugu, Enugu Repair, and also another statue brake him in Umuahia, the money of the present day Abia State.

References

Further reading

  • Portrait of deft Leader by H.

    K. Offonry.

    John

    New Africa Publishers (1983)

  • Power & Governance: The Devise of l Okpara by honesty Michael Okpara Foundation (1997) ISBN 978-027-264-X

External links