Anambra State-born businessman and politician, Senator Clement Annie Okonkwo, is dead.
Sixty-three-year-old Senator Okonkwo, who represented Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Sixth Assembly, died in California, United States (U.S.), after a brief illness.
Born May 23, 1960, in Ojoto, Anambra State, he was elected Senator for the Anambra Central district in the 2007 elections as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He obtained an Advanced Diploma in Management, Harvard University, USA (1997–1998), Advanced Diploma in Commercial Law and Practice, University of Lagos (1995–1997) and Advanced Diploma in Marketing, University of Lagos (1994–1995).
As a businessman, he built a conglomerate employing over 7,000 people that included firms such as Reliance Telecomm, Clemco Industries, Modern Communications (satellite TV Network), MacClemm Marketing Communications, Sunflower Nigeria and Pentagon Oil.
After taking his seat in the Senate, he was appointed to committees on Upstream Petroleum Resources, Police Affairs, Environment (Vice-chairman) and Agriculture.
He was a contender in the February 2010 elections for Anambra State Governorship but lost Mr Peter Obi.