Iyorchia Ayu

Ayu was born in Gboko in Benue State. He taught sociology in the University of Jos in Plateau State, including courses on the art and science of Marxism, and was the chairman of the Jos University chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

After entering politics, he was influential among the majority of Tiv people in his home state of Benue.{{cite news|date=2021-10-14|title=Profile Of Ayu Iyorchia, PDP New Chairman|url=https://nationaldailynews.com.ng/2021/10/14/profile-of-ayu-iyorchia-pdp-new-chairman/|access-date=2022-06-21|work=National Daily News}} He was elected senator in the Third Republic on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and became Senate president.

In November 1993, the senate impeached Ayu, who was a strong opponent of the Interim National Government established after the elected president Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola had been prevented from taking office.{{cite web|url=https://www.ngex.com/nigeria/keyevents/post1960c.htm|title=Key Events in Nigeria (1990 - 2000)|work=Nigeria Exchange|access-date=2010-02-24}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dawodu.com/ing1.htm|title=Politics of dissonance and duplicity|work=Dawodu|last=Oditta|first=Maxwell|access-date=2010-02-24}}

However, he later became the minister for education in General Sani Abacha's military government.

In March 1994 he chaired a workshop on technical education in Nigeria, seeking ways to learn from Germany, the United States, Britain and Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/14/b1/cc.pdf|title=Technical Education in Nigeria|date=March 1994|publisher=Education Resources Information Center|access-date=2010-02-24}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

Ayu was said to be political godfather to George Akume, Governor of Benue State from 1999 to 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.peoplesdaily-online.com/index.php/polity/assembly-watch/39-assembly-watch/5562-who-would-emerge-as-benue-senators-in-2011|title=Who would emerge as Benue senators in 2011?|last=Nnorom|first=Uche|work=Peoples Daily|access-date=2010-02-24}}

Ayu assisted in the 1998–1999 campaign to elect President Olusegun Obasanjo on the People's Democratic Party (PDP platform).

Obasanjo appointed him Industry Ministry from 1999 to 2000.

Ayu was appointed minister of internal affairs in July 2003.{{cite web|url=http://rulers.org/2003-07.html|work=Rulers.org|title=July 2003|access-date=2010-02-24}}

In September 2003 Ayu announced that Nigeria was negotiating security pacts with its northern neighbors Niger and Chad to clamp down on smuggling, human-trafficking and cross-border banditry.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/report/45941/nigeria-security-pact-negotiated-niger-and-chad|title=Security pact negotiated with Niger and Chad|date=2003-09-04|work=The New Humanitarian|publisher=UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|access-date=2024-09-13}}

In June 2004 he inaugurated the Prisons Monitoring Committee to secure the rights of prisoners to acceptable conditions.{{cite web|url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/13361|work=Afrol News|title=Prisons monitoring committee starts work in Nigeria|date=2005-06-15|access-date=2010-02-24}}

In August 2004, Ayu said that his ministry had started the distribution of national identity cards. The new card was to serve for identification purposes and for validation of other documents, such as passports and driving licences. It would also be a tool for controlling migration flows, generating data for government planning, and detecting crimes.{{cite web|url=http://www2.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/research/rir/?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=433956|date=5 November 2004|title=Nigeria: National identity card|publisher=Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada|access-date=2010-02-24}}{{dead link|date=June 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

During a cabinet reshuffle in June 2005, Ayu was reassigned to become minister of environment.{{cite web|url=http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/thisday/2005/07/14/as_obasanjo_reshuffles_cabinet_ministers_under_probe_for_corruption.php|date=2005-07-14|work=BNW News|title=As Obasanjo Reshuffles Cabinet... Ministers Under Probe for Corruption|access-date=2010-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111023812/http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/thisday/2005/07/14/as_obasanjo_reshuffles_cabinet_ministers_under_probe_for_corruption.php|archive-date=2012-01-11|url-status=dead}}

At in a meeting in Rotterdam in September 2005, Ayu called for an effective, sufficient and predictable financial mechanism to provide the technical skills and infrastructure needed for African countries to handle chemicals safely.{{cite web|url=http://www.iisd.ca/chemical/pic/cop2/sep28.html|title=Nigerian Minister of Environment Addresses COP-2|date=27–30 September 2005|publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development|access-date=2010-02-24}}

In October that year, Ayu called for fair access to UNDP/GEF funds, and for increased allocations to developing countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.iisd.ca/download/pdf/enb04183e.pdf|title=CCD-7 COP Highlights|work=Earth Negotiatios Bulletin|publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development|access-date=2010-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520220524/http://www.iisd.ca/download/pdf/enb04183e.pdf|archive-date=2011-05-20|url-status=dead}}

In December 2005 he spoke at a conference on Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM). He praised the holistic, multi-sectoral approach of ICAM as a way to manage the regional ecosystem.{{cite web|url=http://igcc.gclme.org/documents/newsletters/Newsletter8_Eng.pdf|work=GCLME Newsletter|title=ACAM Workshop|publisher=Guinea Current Large Marine Econsystem|access-date=2010-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202119/http://igcc.gclme.org/documents/newsletters/Newsletter8_Eng.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=dead}}

In December 2005, Obasanjo dismissed Ayu, giving no reason.{{cite web|url=http://www.panapress.com/newslatf.asp?code=eng101517&dte=20/12/2005|agency=PanaPress|title=Obasanjo fires Environment minister|date=2005-12-20|access-date=2010-02-24}}

After falling out with Obasanjo, Ayu left the PDP and joined the Action Congress (AC).{{cite news|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/dec/19/national-19-12-2006-01.htm|title=Obasanjo withdrew N20b from PTDF to finance third term —Atiku|last=Omipidan|first=Ismail|date=2006-12-19|work=Daily Sun|access-date=2010-02-24|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080229190434/https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/dec/19/national-19-12-2006-01.htm|archive-date=2008-02-29|url-status=dead}}

He was head of the campaign to elect Vice President Atiku Abubakar as president on the AC platform in April 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/jan/22/national-22-01-2009-01.htm|title=Divided ...Atiku's political camp in disarray over former VP's visit to Obasanjo|last=Amodu|first=Taiwo|date=2009-01-22|work=Daily Sun|access-date=2010-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225025328/http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/jan/22/national-22-01-2009-01.htm|archive-date=2009-02-25|url-status=dead}}

In February 2007, Ayu was arrested and later arraigned by a federal court on charges of terrorism. He was later released on bail.{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200703080059.html|title=Terrorism - Court Grant Ayu Bail|work=Daily Champion|last=Uzendu|first=Malachy|date=2007-03-09|access-date=2010-02-24}}

In March 2007, he spoke out against the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include Atiku's name on the list of candidates.{{cite news|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/mar/26/national-26-03-2007-03.htm|title=Anarchy imminent if INEC disobeys court order – Ayu|last=Edi|first=Jacob|date=2007-03-26|work=Daily Sun|access-date=2010-02-24|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080229190434/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/mar/26/national-26-03-2007-03.htm|archive-date=2008-02-29|url-status=dead}}

On October 31 2021, Ayu emerged as the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ayu, a consensus candidate for the position, took over the leadership of the main opposition party alongside 20 others elected into various positions within the PDP National Working Committee.{{cite news|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2021/10/31/breaking-iyorchia-ayu-emerges-pdp-chairman-as-party-gets-new-national-officials/|title=Iyorchia Ayu Emerges PDP Chairman As Party Gets New National Officials|agency=Channels TV|last=Ajibola|first=Akinola|date=2021-10-31|access-date=2022-02-24}}

On March 26 2023, Iyorchia Ayu who was the national chairman of the PDP, was suspended by the party. The suspension of Ayu was effected by the Ward Executive of the party in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.{{cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/03/breaking-pdp-suspends-natl-chair-ayu-with-immediate-effect/|title=PDP suspends National Chairman, Ayu with immediate effect|work=Vanguard|last=Duru|first=Peter|date=2023-03-26|access-date=2023-03-26}}

• {{cite book|title=Essays in popular struggle|last=Ayu|first=Iyorchia D.|publisher=Zim Pan African Publishers|year=1986|isbn=978-2150-02-9}}

{{Reflist}}

{{President Nigerian Senate}}

{{Interior Ministers of Nigeria}}

{{Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo 1999-2003}}

{{Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo 2003-2007}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayu, Iyorchia}}

Category:1952 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Gboko

Category:University of Jos alumni

Category:Social Democratic Party (Nigeria) politicians

Category:Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)

Category:Presidents of the Senate (Nigeria)

Category:Education ministers of Nigeria

Category:Federal ministers of Nigeria

Category:Interior ministers of Nigeria