BUHARI, SARAKI AND OTHERS EULOGIZE TONY ANENIH AS HE DIES AT 85

BUHARI, SARAKI AND OTHER POUR ENCOMIUM ON LATE TONY ANENIH

The Federal government and other notable politicians have described the death of former Minister of Works and Housing and one of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) founding fathers, Chief Anthony Anenih as colossal loss to the nation.

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his “heartfelt condolences” to the Anenih family on the death of its beloved patriarch and elder statesman, Anthony Anenih.

The president in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, Sunday evening said as a frontline figure in the annals of Nigeria’s political history, “the president attests that Chief Anenih lived a life of service, as State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), chieftain of the PDP, and a former Minister of Works.”

President Buhari also affirmed that across the political spectrum of Nigeria, Mr Anenih was known for his strong views on issues pertaining to the unity and stability of the nation.

“The president prays almighty God to grant Chief Anenih’s soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn the octogenarian,” the statement said.

According to the Senate president on his twitter handle, he described the late political leader thus; “Chief Tony Anenih was a consummate elder statesman who played several defining roles throughout Nigeria’s democracy. He will be remembered for his great patriotism and his insight into national issues. He will be dearly missed. Rest in Peace, Chief,” the Senate President wrote.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Ekweremadu described Mr Anenih as a pan Nigerian and patriot who served the nation to the best of his ability.

He said: “Chief Anineh contributed so much to deepening our democracy and setting the nation on the path of progress at the end of many decades of military rule.

“He was a humble leader, fine public administrator, political kingmaker, a colossus, master strategist, and a political oracle, who was very vast in political engineering.”

According to family sources, Chief Anenih died on Sunday evening at the Cedar Crest Hospital in Abuja the nation’s capital, where he was said to be receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment. He died at the age of 85.

Anenih was a former police officer who served the first governor-general of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, as an orderly.

Born in Uzenema-Arue In Uromi, of Edo State, he was state chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1981 and 1983, helping Samuel Ogbemudia’s election as the governor of the then Bendel State.

He was also the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in 1993 when Chief MKO Abiola ran for president as the party’s flagbearer.

The PDP chieftain played a major role in the election of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and later became the chairman of the party’s board of trustees.