Kema Chikwe, Anthony Manzo: Where are they now?

Former Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe, was a popular figure in the political arena after the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999, so also was Senator Roland Owie who represented Edo South in the Senate between 1999 and 2003, as well as Anthony Manzo, who was chief of staff to former Senate President, David Mark.
In this piece ELEOJO IDACHABA turns the searchlight on these gladiators who have become invisible in recent times
Kema Chikwe Mrs Kemafo Nonyerem Chikwe fondly called Kema, started her career as a broadcast journalist, editor and then a publisher.
She first entered politics in the Second Republic with her membership of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and later cast her lot with the NRC, UNCP and subsequently the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
She was appointed Minister of Transport, and later that of Aviation by President Olusegun Obasanjo, holding office until May 2003.
While in the cabinet, she was one of the women who called the shots and as such was described as ‘Obasanjo girl’, a tag she, however, disputed in many fora.
“If at all it’s true, I don’t see why they should refer to me as the president’s girl because there were six of the ladies in his cabinet.
It was really tough in a man’s job and the chauvinistic environment was quite volatile but I tried to hold firm,” she responded to query on how she came about the name.
The 71-year-old mother and grandmother later ran for the office of the governor of Imo state, though she was unsuccessful, her ambition was lauded as no woman had aspired to the position in state until then.
She was named the Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland in 2009 and chairman, Joint Administration and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in 2014.
Though she has been off the scene, she made a sort of reappearance in April at a symposium organised by The Women International’s (TWI) Circle Forum in Lagos, where she admonished women never to play the role of second fiddle.
She enjoined them to be in the forefront with all their abilities, “I tell women aspiring to become politicians to be very prepared for it.
It’s not enough to just desire to hold an elective position; you must be ready to walk the talk because politics is like smoking marijuana.” It is yet to be seen if she would be making a full come back to the political arena as preparation towards the 2019 general election gathers momentum.
Kema Chikwe, Anthony Manzo: Where are they now? Roland Owie Senator Roland Owie, who once represented Edo South in the Senate between 1999 and 2003, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears not to have been able to find his bearing in the political space since he left the national Assemble.
Bid by the politician whose forays into politics started way back in the Second Republic when he served as a law maker in the House of Representatives, has been unsuccessful.
While in the Senate, Owie was made the chairman, Senate Committee on Senate Services, Power and Steel, Agriculture, Water Resources, among others.
The chieftain of Action Democratic Party (ADP), who was Senate Chief Whip, is said to be planning yet another return bid to the red chamber.
Owie in a recent interview while expressing disgust over the state of the nation said, “This government has brought so much hate, shedding of innocent blood and wickedness that a true child of God like the vice president should not be part of.
“President Buhari should sleep and ask God to allow him have access to Idi Amin and Mobutu Seseko, then he will know that he needs to change from his compassionless ways and live on the path of justice and equity.
How do we trust a government that abolished fuel subsidy and increased fuel to N145 per litre but silently pays subsidy,” he queried.
He is no doubt someone whose wealth of knowledge is still needed, especially in his home state, Edo, however, he is no longer visible in the scheme of things.
Anthony Manzo His last known public responsibility was just before 2015, when he served as the chief of staff to former Senate President, David Mark.
Since then, the whereabouts of this former senator, who represented Taraba North in the upper chamber, is not certain.
Manzo, had suffered defeat in the hands of Mrs Jummai Alhassan, who took his place in the Senate and the shock of his ousting was said to have literarily sent him into political Siberia.
However, unconfirmed reports indicate that, the medical doctor turned politician is planning to return to active politics as the 2019 general booths.
Manzo is reputed to have provided credible representation for his people and a look at some of the bills he initiated while in the Senate show most touched the lives of the people directly.
They include: Mental Health and Free Medical Centre Act; amendment of the Psychiatric Hospital Management Board Act, and University of Abuja College of Medicine Act among others.
Apart from being a member of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs; Information and Media; Health and Air Force; he was a vocal member of the parliament and spoke against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bank consolidation programme under Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
Manzo had called on the government to pay debts owed to local contractors and pensioners in order to reduce the effect of the economic crunch.
Recognising his potential, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel and Cyprus at different times.
However, in recent times, he has been conspicuously absent; especially now that politicking has kicked off in full gear and with his erstwhile boss, Senator Mark, still very much around and seeking for presidential ticket.