Buhari, PDP, others mourn as Tony Anenih dies at 85

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

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain died on Sunday at the age of 85.

In a statement made available last night by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, President Buhari also condoled with the government and people of Edo State and the PDP on the passing on of their illustrious son and former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees.

The statement reads in part, “As a frontline figure in the annals of our country’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 affirms that across the political spectrum of Nigeria, Chief 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 former Minister of Works, who celebrated his 85th birthday on August 4, 2018, was said to have been battling old age related health challenges until he breathed last on Sunday.

Popularly known as ‘Mr. Fix It’, the late politician was born in Uzenema-Arue in Uromi.

He joined the joined the Nigeria Police Force in Benin City and was trained at the Police College in Ikeja, 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.

The political icon was State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1981 and 1983, helping Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia become elected as civilian Governor of the defunct Bendel State.

He was National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party from 1992 and 1993, when he assisted in the election Chief M. K. O. Abiola as president. He was a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994.

Anenih, from Arue, Uromi, headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, was a member of the PDM until early April 2002, when he transferred to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Anenih was said to have masterminded the 26 April 2002 declaration of President Obasanjo at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

He was deputy national coordinator of Olusegun Obasanjo’s campaign Organisation in the 1999 and 2003 elections.
He was a former chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees.

He is married to Josephine Anenih, a lawyer, who was the chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers from 1994 to 2000, and also was the first National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999-2005.

Meanwhile, it was shock and disbelief on Sunday in Benin, the Edo State capital, when news of the death of Anenih filtered in.

All was quiet at his house on Delta Crescent in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) Benin as the massive gate was under lock and key.

The two security guards confessed that they were not aware of the death of the Iyasele of Esanland, adding that the younger son who drove in shortly before our correspondent visited at about 6 pm was inside and not disposed to talking to the press.

The situation was also the same at the residence of his wife, Iyom Josephine Anenih, on Liberty Avenue, GRA, as the gate was under lock and key.

However, in a telephone interview, a grief stricken, Mrs. Anenih, a former Minister of Women Affairs told The Daily Times-that she will only speak after the family issues a statement.

Another of his son, Mr. Usolo Anenih confirmed the demise of the former Minister of Works in a private hospital in Abuja after a brief illness, adding that the eldest son, Mr. Tony Anenih, Jnr. flew to Abuja from his base in Lagos and will issue a statement after a family meeting.

Speaking in the same vein, the Edo State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said that the party will only come out with a statement after the family officially broke the news of the death of the political titan.

The Special Adviser to Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said that the government was aware of the death of Anenih but was only waiting for an official announcement from the family before its reaction.

Meanwhile, the PDP has expressed shock over the news of the demise of one of its founding fathers, former Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman and former Minister of Works and Housing, Chief Tony Anenih, the Iyasele of Esanland.

The late Anenih was described as 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 the nation.

The party’s publicist, Kola Ologbondiyan, said 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”, he said.

The PDP condoled with the Anenih family, the government and people of Edo State and prayed that God will grant the nation the fortitude to bear this monumental loss.