Son of former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Anthony Anenih Jnr, has officially announced the death of his father, Chief Tony Anenih.
In a statement he signed, the son of the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wrote: “It is with a heavy heart and total submission to the will of the Almighty God, the family of Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih, CFR, the Iyasele of Esanland, announces his passing on to glory today, Sunday, October 28, 2018 after a brief illness.
“Aged 85, Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih, is survived by a wife, many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“A beloved patriarch, he enjoyed God’s uncommon grace while alive.
“He served God and humanity with commitment. He also served his fatherland to the best of his ability.
“We will all sorely miss him. But his legacies live on.
“Burial arrangements by the family will be announced subsequently.”
The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondinyan, described his loss as monumental expressing shocked at the news of the demise of one of its founding fathers, Chief Tony Anenih, the Iyasele of Esanland.
The party added: “Chief Anenih was a great Nigerian, a light bearer, brilliant administrator, fine officer, quintessential nationalist and democratic icon, who made innumerable sacrifices for the unity, stability and development of our dear nation.
“Indeed, Chief Anenih, who was known in the political circle as “Mr. Fix it”, owing to his ability to find solutions to very knotty political and governance issues, remains a colossus with unparalleled array of legacies which will be celebrated for generations.
“His roles in ensuring the stability, not only of our great party but also for our nation at large, stood him out as a patriot who dedicated his life for the service of humanity.
“The PDP is particularly pained that Chief Anenih left the stage at the time the party and the nation needed his wealth of experience the more, especially in our collective quest to restore good governance and democratic ideals in our country.
“The PDP therefore condoles with the Anenih family, the government and people of Edo state and pray that God will grant the nation the fortitude to bear this monumental loss.”
On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara noted that the late Anenih was a fine gentleman, great mobiliser and a reputable nationalist who, all through his life, believed in, worked and prompted peace and unity in Nigeria.
“We have lost a father, counselor, leader par excellence and a patriot who gave his all for the unity of this country”
“He was a distinguished and exemplary officer while he served in the Nigerian Police until his retirement as Deputy Commissioner of Police”.
” On the political front, Chief Anenih played politics without bitterness right from the days of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN in the second republic to the then Social Democratic Party, SDP and later the People’s Democratic Party, PDP where he served as the Board of Trustees chairman, leaving indelible marks in the management of the party”.
“Our deepest condolences go to the Anenih family, the people and government of Edo state, and the nation at large”.
For Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Chief Anineh contributed so much to deepening democracy and se 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”.
Ekweremadu prayed God to grant the deceased eternal repose and to his family, the government and people of Edo State, and indeed the nation the inner strength to bear the irreparable loss.
