PDP, Atiku, Edo State Govt, Saraki, Ekweremadu Mourn Tony Anenih

A former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has died at the age of 85.

It was gathered that Anenih died today, Sunday, October 28, at a private hospital in Abuja.

Since the news of his death, there have been reactions from different quarters.

Reacting to Anenih death, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, in a statement on Sunday evening said that the entire state was saddened by the loss.

Obaseki described the late politician as a leader who made immense contributions to the development of the state and the country.

He also said that the guidance of the deceased elder statesman would be missed, especially as the country prepares for the 2019 general elections.

National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, said that the nation would miss the late politician who is fondly called Mr. Fix.

Secondus said, “His death came to me as a rude shock. Though he was advanced in age, as human beings, we wanted him to be around us for a longer period.

“This is because we loved him. He was a nationalist who wanted the best for the country. We would miss him. We pray to God almighty to grant him eternal peace.”

Secondus said that the PDP would immortalise him.

The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar also expressed sadness over the news of the death of former BoT chairman.

He said “The passing away of Chief Tony Anenih, one of the founding fathers and elder statesmen of OfficialPDPNig is a sad news to me and everyone who had a close & personal relationship with him. I pray for strength and comfort for his family. May God grant his soul a peaceful repose.”

Also, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, have expressed grief over the death of a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PDP.

Saraki, while reacting to Anenih’s death via his social media accounts, said the PDP chieftain would be dearly missed.

He wrote, “Chief Tony Anenih was a consummate leader 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.”

Ekweremadu also expressed “deep grief” over the demise of Anenih, describing him as a pan-Nigerian and patriot who served the nation to the best of his ability.

On his Facebook page and Twitter handle, @iamekweremadu, 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.

“Iyasele was a courageous man, and a man of few words, who meant whatever he said and said only what he meant. He will be sorely missed.”

Tony Anenih  was born on August 4, 1933 in Uzenema-Arue in Uromi, Anenih joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1951 in Benin City.

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, Lagos. He retired from the Police as a Commissioner, after which he joined politics.

He was State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria between 1981 and 1983.

He was National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party from 1992 and 1993, and was also a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994.

Anenih was a member of the then unregistered Peoples Democratic Movement founded by the late former Chief of General Staff, late General Musa Yar’Adua.

He later later joined the People’s Democratic Party, and was a minister under the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was later made the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP.