Matthew Tawo Mbu (1929 ' 2012)

THE death of elder statesman, Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu represents a deep loss to Nigeria. A lawyer, politician, diplomat and First Republic Minister, Mbu died on February 6, in a London hospital at 82. His death came as a rude shock, prompting tributes from many Nigerians. President Goodluck Jonathan had in a statement described him as an icon of the legal profession and Diplomatic Corps, who served Nigeria selflessly in several capacities. He will be greatly missed.Born in Okundi in Cross River State on November 20, 1929, the young Mbu received his early education at Okundi Primary School from 1937-1940 and Kakwagon Seminary School from 1941-1943 before proceeding to the Middle Temple and University College, London from 1955 to 1959 where he received LLB and LLM and was subsequently called to the Middle Temple Bar. After acquiring the Golden Fleece, he returned to serve his fatherland.His political career began when he became Member of Parliament from 1952. From then, Mbu was a permanent feature in Nigeria's politics for more than 50 years, serving the country in various capacities till death. He was the youngest Nigerian ever to serve in the Federal Cabinet. He was Federal Minister of Labour in 1954; High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, 1955-1959 and Representative of Nigeria in Washington, DC in 1966. Later, he served as the Federal Minister of Defence for Naval Affairs. He was appointed Chairman Eastern Nigeria Public Service in 1967 just about the time the civil war broke out.Prior to the Second Republic, Mbu played active role in the political evolution of the time. He was a Member of the Constituent Assembly from 1977-1978 and First National Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), 1979-1981 before moving over to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) from 1981 to 1983, the year the military struck again forcing politicians to go on retreat.Mbu remained active, representing Nigeria in many countries, including as Ambassador to Germany. He was Foreign Minister from January to November, 1993. He also served as the Pro-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Until his death, Mbu was the leader of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA), a non-political organisation created to promote the interest of the South-South geo-political zone. There is no doubt that Mbu was a nationalist to the core as well as a globalist.
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