Former Anambra Assembly Speaker, Chief Benjamin Ekwealor, Dies at 89
In an era where politics has become increasingly transactional and public service often marred by opportunism, the passing of Chief Benjamin Afagu Ekwealor — former Speaker of the Old Anambra State House of Assembly — evokes profound reflection on what it once meant to lead with purpose, conviction, and a moral compass anchored in justice.
On Saturday, July 26, 2025, the distinguished elder statesman, revered legal practitioner, and respected educator drew his final breath at the age of 89 in his hometown of Nzam, nestled in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State. His departure marks the end of an era for many who still recall a time when public life was led by men who wore integrity like a second skin.
His death, confirmed in a statement issued by his son, Chuba Ekwealor, was received with solemnity by political leaders, traditional institutions, the Nigerian Bar, and former students whose lives he touched in his earlier vocation as an educator. The late Chief Ekwealor was not merely a politician; he was a man of letters, a guardian of justice, a mentor to many, and a bridge between the old and new Nigeria.
Chief Ekwealor’s journey into public life was predicated on a strong foundation in education. He was first known as a strict but compassionate school principal, a role he held until 1977. In this capacity, he was beloved and feared in equal measure — beloved for his fairness and mentorship, feared for his disciplined approach to administration. His tenure as a principal was more than an occupation; it was a proving ground for leadership.
In the same year he retired from his educational career, he heeded a higher call: the call to serve his people in a different but equally noble capacity — politics. His community, recognizing his brilliance, integrity, and unflinching commitment to justice, urged him to take up the mantle of leadership.
Thus, began his political journey with the then-powerful National Party of Nigeria (NPN), under whose banner he was elected to the Old Anambra State House of Assembly in 1979. His political rise was swift and deserved. He was re-elected in 1983 and ultimately became the Speaker of the House — a position that made him one of the most influential lawmakers in the then-Anambra State, which included the present-day states of Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi.
To fully understand the significance of Chief Ekwealor’s leadership, one must situate it within the political climate of the Second Republic. Nigeria was still finding its democratic footing after years of military rule. The institutions of democracy were fragile, and state assemblies were rife with factionalism, power struggles, and sometimes outright corruption.
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Yet, through it all, Chief Ekwealor was known as a stabilizing force in the Old Anambra Assembly. Lawmakers who served under him described him as a “man of rare conviction,” one who “spoke truth to power without flinching,” and whose gavel did not merely symbolize authority but was wielded with the wisdom of a jurist and the compassion of a father.
He famously refused to rubber-stamp executive overreach, insisting that the legislative arm must serve as a check and not a cheerleader. His speakership helped enshrine values that would later form the backbone of legislative practices in southeastern Nigeria — fairness, due process, and robust debate.
Chief Ekwealor’s public life was not confined to the chambers of the state assembly. Trained as a lawyer, his brilliance extended into the legal profession where he carved a niche as a principled defender of justice. In 1998, he was appointed to the Anambra State Judicial Service Commission as the Nigerian Bar Association’s representative — a position he held for nearly ten years.
Those who worked with him at the Commission recall his “razor-sharp legal mind” and his “uncompromising stance on judicial independence.” In an age when political interference in judicial processes was rife, Ekwealor remained a bulwark for judicial ethics. His input was instrumental in the appointments and disciplinary actions concerning magistrates and judges, and he was often cited as a man whose sense of justice transcended party lines or regional loyalties.
His writings on constitutional law and his lectures at legal workshops were considered required reading by younger lawyers across Anambra and neighboring states. He believed that the judiciary was not just the last hope of the common man but also the ultimate anchor of any democracy worthy of the name.
Beyond the corridors of political and legal power, Chief Ekwealor remained a man deeply rooted in his native Nzam and the broader Anambra West. He was not just a public figure but also a traditionalist — a man who saw no contradiction in being both modern and conservative, progressive and rooted.
He was often consulted during major community crises and was instrumental in resolving long-standing land disputes, family feuds, and inter-communal tensions through customary arbitration. Though he never held a formal traditional title, many considered him an Onye Ichie in spirit — a custodian of Igbo values and communal unity.
At Nzam festivals, he sat with elders, danced with youth, and gave long reflective speeches about the direction of society, often warning against the erosion of values due to what he called “the counterfeit modernity we have imported from the West.”
Not many knew that the late Chief Ekwealor was also an avid reader and writer. He maintained a personal library of over 1,000 books, including works on African history, philosophy, and jurisprudence. His handwritten notes on Nigeria’s postcolonial legal evolution are reportedly being compiled by his family for future publication.
A deeply spiritual man, Chief Ekwealor was a devout Anglican, attending services religiously at the Nzam parish where he served as both a lay reader and a benefactor. He believed that spirituality was central to public service, often quoting biblical passages during his political speeches, not as performative acts, but as deeply held convictions.
Following the announcement of his death, tributes have poured in from all quarters. The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, described him as “a rare breed in Nigerian public life, a man whose service was unmarred by scandal, and whose name evokes admiration across generations.”
Former Governor Peter Obi also paid homage, noting, “Chief Ekwealor was among the last of the old guard — those who saw leadership as stewardship. His wisdom will be sorely missed in these trying times.”
The Nigerian Bar Association, through its Awka chapter, issued a statement describing him as “a shining example of legal brilliance and ethical consistency.” Meanwhile, former students who passed through his tutelage have begun sharing stories online, painting a portrait of a teacher whose influence stretched far beyond the classroom.
Chief Ekwealor is survived by six children, including lawyers, teachers, and civil servants, and numerous grandchildren who remember him as both disciplinarian and storyteller. His first son, Chuba, himself a public servant, described his father as “a man who never wavered from the values he preached.”
Funeral arrangements, according to the family, will be announced in the coming days. Already, Nzam is preparing for a homecoming worthy of a man whose life was interwoven with the soul of his people.
It is difficult to measure a man like Chief Benjamin Afagu Ekwealor using ordinary metrics. He was not a billionaire, nor did he seek the trappings of political flamboyance. Yet, in a country often plagued by failed institutions and fallen heroes, he remained upright — a towering oak whose roots ran deep into law, learning, leadership, and legacy.
His death may not provoke headlines outside Nigeria’s Southeast, but for those who knew his worth, Chief Ekwealor’s name will be spoken with reverence for decades to come. In remembering him, we are reminded that public service can still be noble, that law can still be sacred, and that leadership can still be principled.
May his soul find eternal rest, and may his life continue to inspire those who dare to lead with integrity in a world that so desperately needs it.