The senator representing Owerri zone at the National Assembly, Senator Sam Daddy Anyanwu has come to be seen as one of the vibrant senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Senator Anyanwu barely new at the senate, demonstrated a will for higher politicking to the surprise of some Nigerians who did not know much about his intimidating political profile, while those who were aware of his pre-senate political pedigree built over the years were not surprised at his deep political plunges at the senate immediately the senators resumed official business of the House.
The first surprising political shot he fired was the role he played in the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the senate president and the leading role he played initially in making sure that narrow minded senators from the APC extraction were not allowed to thwart the will of the majority in electing senator Saraki as the senate president.
Again when it was crucial according to popular opinion to defend the office of the senate president from the narrow skirmishes of the anti-Saraki camp, he played visible politically defensive role in shielding Saraki from the selfish maneuvering of some APC senators. Infact to the satisfaction of a greater percentage of Nigerians, the anti-Saraki camp was put in disarray as he coasted to victory, staving off all attempts to impeach him at that crucial moment, Nigerians, especially those with pan Nigerian sentiment saw APC senators’ moves at displacing Saraki as ill-motivated as Senator Anyanwu’s inspiring role at consolidating the Bukola Saraki camp was praised by Nigerians.
At least for the first time in the presidential democracy history of Nigeria ,an opposition’ party was able to secure the position of Deputy Senate president .This achievement became possible through the high class politicking of vibrant PDP senators like Senator Anyanwu.
The PDP Senators’ influential role in determining what happened at the senate against the will of majority APC senators before now provided a serious case study in modern Nigerian democracy.
The synergy that had existed between PDP senators and the senate president from another political party evoked unprecedented excitement that made many political watchers to wonder how such a striking harmonious relationship was achieved. Even now that Saraki is facing trial the excitement persists. Without prejudice to the merit or otherwise of the Bukola trial it would be seen that some senators who showed solidarity to him did so out of the interest to boost the unprecedented synergy existing between him and the opposition and to resist the unseen hands that were trying to instigate his crucifixion for leaning to the opposition.
In fact when the history of this political achievement would be written, Senator Anyanwu’s name would be given a prominent place .The senate leadership was truly aware of his outstanding role, hence his chairmanship of a strategic committee like the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the senate among other committees.
Therefore, this rare achievement recorded by PDP SENATORS stands as a watershed in our political history as earlier stated and senator Anyanwu as a strong voice and one of the master strategists in its achievement deserves high citation. He has played the role of a political bridge builder in achieving consensus between some APC senators and PDP senators to a very fascinating degree. He is worthy of our salute in that regard. It is not contradictory to adduce that SamDaddy’s visible presence at the senate is traceable to his experience as the legislator representing Ikeduru state constituency before 2015 presidential elections .It would be recalled that he gathered sound legislative experience and clout which have made him a confident senator conversant with House rules. In fact his experience and personality emboldened him for these cited exploits. Besides his enviable role at the senate in building national consensus and unity, his conduct at the home front shows proof of a senator, who truly understands that he is a senator of the Federal Republic, whose interest goes beyond a particular zone. Senator Anyanwu is not under the retrogressive burden of seeing himself as a senator representing clannish interests. He represents the interest of Imo state and it is in consonance with global standard of presidential democracy for him to be a senator in this frame of mind. A senator should approach legislative business from a wider national perspective, not from a narrow point of approach as it is the case with some of our senators.
Senator Anyanwu seems to be a senator who believes that Imo state deserves a fair deal from the larger Nigerian state, that whatever affects any part of the state attracts his attention. For instance, since the Okigwe re-run brouhaha, he has demonstrated solidarity to Senator Athan Nneji Achonu in a manner deserving commendation. This attribute deserves to be imitated by other law makers at both state and federal levels. The Imo PDP should understudy the Senator Anyanwu political character and recommend it to others in order for the party to play a clear leadership role in the state. It is noteworthy to highlight the fact that a law maker should show great interest in all issues that promote collective prosperity, peace and harmony among the component parts of the state and the larger Nigerian federation and that is why what is happening in another constituency should attract the support of law makers from other constituencies. Senator Anyanwu has by his various actions shown that he is a senator who appreciates this imperative. As a visible Imo senator at the National Assembly, he should be encouraged in his efforts to articulate interests that will better the lives of Imo people in particular and Nigerians in general.
