Abuja – Former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kaduna state, Ahmed Makarfi and the immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark yesterday joined Nigerians to mourn the death of the former Minister of Works, Tony Anenih.
Anenih, who was the former Board of Trustees of PDP, passed on Sunday at a private hospital in Abuja at the age of 85.
Obasanjo, who said that Anenih served Nigeria meritoriously, added that his demise marked the end of the “inspiring chapter of Nigeria’s history.”
Obasanjo, who paid glowing tributes to the former minister in a condolence letter dated October 29 addressed to the Head of Anenih’s family said the deceased lived a well-fulfilled life.
He said in the letter made available to newsmen on Monday in Abeokuta by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, that God had been kind to Anenih in many ways.
Obasanjo said the life of Anenih who he appointed Minister of Works in 1999 was an archetypal lesson in public service and leadership at its best.
He said that Anenih “served the nation with devotion and diligence in his chosen profession. His service in the Nigeria Police Force was distinguished by a high professional standard.”
In the same vein, former President Jonathan described him as a patriot and mentor to many Nigerians.
Jonathan in a statement by his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, noted that the exit of the great nationalist and founding member of PDP is a sad loss to the party and the nation.
Jonathan stressed that his rich political experience, sincere patriotism and deep wisdom are qualities Nigerians still needed to cultivate for national cohesion, growth and development.
He said: “Late Chief Tony Anenih was a great asset to our dear nation. For a long time, he remained a leading light in our party and in Nigeria’s political firmament, charting the course for peace, unity and the entrenchment of true democracy in our nation.
Secondus on his part described the deceased as an outstanding leader who would be greatly missed in the polity.
The PDP National Chairman said that the death of the great politician and founding member of the PDP came to him as a shock but thanked God for his golden age and the huge legacies he left behind.
Secondus, in a statement by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi, said, “Chief Anenih’s deep political thinking and disarming political strategy that helped him holds way in the country’s polity for years would be missed as well as his fatherly counsel at challenging times.”
The presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar Atiku described as shocking the news of the death of Chief Anenih, the Iyasele of Esanland.
Atiku, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe said that Anenih’s death has left a vacuum in the country as his roles in ensuring the stability, not only of PDP, but also for the nation at large, stood him out as a patriot who dedicated his life to the service of humanity.
Atiku said Chief Anenih did his best for the country and his death at this time that the nation is going into electioneering campaigns is saddening.
The former governor of Kaduna state, Ahmed Makarfi said he was saddened by the news of the passing away of Anenih, whom he described as a nationalist, statesman, democrat, father and leader.
Makarfi, in a statement, said, “At a time our country needs statesmen like him (Anenih) God took him away from us. Am consoled because God knows better and doesn’t make mistake.”
The former President of the Senate, David Mark, who lamented the demise of Anenih, said that his death was a huge loss to the nation and devastating to the political class who would have benefited from his reservoir of experience to navigate through the murky waters of Nigerian politics today.
Mark, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, recalled Chief Anenih’s exploits and contributions to the political evolution of Nigeria since the second republic and submitted that the late politician was a political icon who added value to the polity.
Senator Mark maintained that “Chief Anenih had stamped his authority in the political arena and left his positive footprint on the sand of time.
He added: “In the second republic, as the then Chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in Bendel State, he led the party to victory”.
“During the ill-fated third republic, he was the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) that led the party to success in an election variously described as the freest, fairest and most credible election in the history of Nigeria.
“On the return of Democracy in 1998/99, Anenih played the leading role in the evolution of PDP and earned the sobriquet of ‘Mr. Fix it and Leader.’
The former President of the Senate pointed out that Nigeria would miss Anenih’s wise counsel and contributions to the political development of the country, adding, “he lived an eventful and accomplished life worthy of emulation.”
The post Obasanjo, Jonathan, Secondus, Atiku, Makarfi, Mark Mourn Anenih appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.
Source: Daily Independent
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