Frank Ogbuewu

Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu was born on December 12, 1953, in Ikwo Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria,[4] and is the last born of his mother Oginyi Nchita. His father was a traditionalist who specialized in native herbal treatment as well as being a reputable hunter. A one time monogamist, Ambassador Ogbuewu now has seven children from two wives. The first four (3 boys and a girl) are from his first wife, Mrs. Eunice Ebin Ogbuewu. Eunice, a native of Etung Local Government Area in Cross River State was legally married to Ogbuewu for 22+ years before their separation. Ogbuewu was left with the second wife, Mrs. Rebecca Ogbuewu, a native of Ezza LGA with whom he has 3 children.

Ogbuewu's venture into politics came as a surprise to both his family and friends. A former Nigeria Immigration Service officer, Ogbuewu retired from service as an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration. While in retirement, he registered as a member of the defunct National Republican Convention (N. R. C) party to enable him run for political office. His first attempt was the local government chairmanship position in his native local government area. Ogbuewu took his campaign to every nook and cranny of his LGA but his efforts were soon stopped as the electoral process was circumvented by the then military administration of late General Sani Abacha in 1993. In 1994, Ogbuewu was later appointed as chairman, Caretaker Committee for his Local Government Area, Ikwo. The tenure lasted for two years. After the death of General Sani Abacha and the appointment of General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) as Nigeria's military head of state, registration of new political parties commenced and elections were scheduled to be held in Nigeria for a civilian hand over. Ogbuewu registered as a member of the defunct All People's Party to contest the gubernatorial election but lost in the primaries to Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, who was Chairman of the Party. Ogbuewu was to later join the People Democratic Party (PDP) and was instrumental to the successful election of Dr. Sam Egwu as the first governor of the young state. In 1999, Ogbuewu was nominated for an ambassadorial position which was ratified by the senate. He was tasked with re-opening Nigeria's embassy in Greece which had been shut down for quite some time. Ogbuewu served as Nigeria's Ambassador to Greece from 1999 to 2003.

Ambassador Ogbuewu at APGA's Secretariat delivering his Gubernatorial expression form and meeting with APGA's Chairman, Chief Umeh

In 2003, the Obasanjo administration recalled him back to Nigeria to head the ministry of Culture and Tourism. In 2006, Ambassador Ogbuewu resigned his position as Nigeria's minister of culture and tourism to contest the 2007 gubernatorial election in Ebonyi State under the umbrella of the People Democratic Party (PDP). The gubernatorial primaries which had about thirteen (13) PDP aspirants including the incumbent governor, Chief Martin Elechi ended up being a contest between just two individuals. It is on record that Ogbuewu was the only candidate who refused to step down and accept a sole candidacy of Chief Elechi at the primaries held in the township stadium, Abakaliki. Ogbuewu lost the primaries as he polled just over 580 votes compared to Elechi's over 2000 delegate votes. In 2008, after an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid, Ambassador Ogbuewu expressed interest in the Peoples Democratic Party's national chairmanship position that was zoned to the south eastern states of Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu. Notable politicians like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former Senate President Pius Anyim and Ex-Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu also indicated interest in the position. Ebonyi State seemed to be the favoured state of all the five South Eastern State but the state governor was not disposed to the candidacy of any of the aspirants from his state.

• List of people from Ebonyi State