Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih
ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and his predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan had paid tribute to the former chairman, of the Board of trustee, of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, and former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, (CFR) who died on Sunday at 85 years.
Governor Okowa also conveyed his condolences to the family of the late Iyasele of Esanland, describing him as a committed patriot who served our nation at the highest levels with an uncommon sense of patriotism and unwavering dedication.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, in Asaba on Sunday, the Governor said he was saddened by the demise of the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The statement read: “I am deeply saddened by the death of elder statesman and former Chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih (CFR), who passed on at the age of 85 years”.
“He was a committed patriot, an astute politician and a former Minister of Works who worked to better the lots of his people and Nigerians in general, adding “through his purposeful leadership and development strides, the late Anenih influenced the dualisation of the Benin Asaba road, Benin Warri Road and the Benin bypass road which brought about unprecedented development to the Niger Delta region”.
Governor Okowa remarked that as a democrat, the late Anenih etched his name in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic advancement by working courageously for the emergence and consolidation of the Fourth Republic in 1999 when he joined forces with other leaders to form the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“Before venturing into politics, Chief Anenih retired from the Nigeria Police Force as a Commissioner of Police and bestrode Nigeria’s political landscape like a collossus where he mentored several succesfull politicians across the country.
“His good works as a dedicated family man, selfless politician and great philanthropist as well as his ability to consistently, at every turn, resolve knotty political puzzles would later earn him the sobriquet – “Mr. Fix It” which would continue to live after him”.
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I convey our deepest sympathy to the Anenih family, the people of Uromi and Esan Land, Edo State, and the rest of the country.
“May his soul find eternal repose in the bosom of the Almighty God.” the Governor wrote
Uduaghan
On his part, the former Governor of the State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Delta South Senatorial District candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has expressed pain over the death of Chief Tony Anenih, describing him as Nigeria’s greatest Nationalist. Uduaghan in a statement by his media assistant, Monoyo Edon said; “I have just received the sad news of the death of one of Nigeria’s greatest nationalists, Chief Tony Anenih.
His passing is a painful reminder that the pool of our committed nationalist leaders is depleting.
“Chief Anenih was like a father-figure to me privately and on my political sojourn. He gave me the privilege of his listening ears in troubled and in good times.”
“I shall forever cherish the very good memories we shared together, he was my run-to adviser who threw his doors open to me, even at short notice. I generously tapped from his wealth of experience and I am the better for it today.”
“His death may be painful, but I thank God for the selfless life he lived and the legacies, worth emulating by all patriots, that he left behind. I pray that the Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and the Anenih’s family the fortitude to bear irreparable loss”.
The former Minister of Works and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih died on Sunday evening, at 85 years, at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih was born in Uzenema-Arue in Uromi.
In 1951 he joined the Nigeria police force in Benin City. Working at home, he obtained secondary school qualifications. He attended the police college in Ikeja, and was selected for further training in the Bramshill Police College, Basingstoke, England in 1966 and the International Police Academy, Washington DC in 1970.
He served as a police orderly to the first Governor General of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He worked as an instructor in various police colleges and in 1975 was assigned to the Administrative Staff College (ASCON), Lagos. He retired from the police as a Commissioner of police.
Mr Anenih was a state chairman of Nigeria’s then ruling party, NPN, between 1981 and 1983.
He was also the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1993 under whose platform Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Mr Abiola was later imprisoned by the Sani Abacha dictatorship with many of his supporters accusing Mr Anenih of betraying the June 12 cause. Upon return to democracy in 1999, he was also a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party and was appointed works minister by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He was accused of masterminding the mismanagement of tens of billions of naira while he held sway as works minister.
