MIMIKO, DANIEL, ONI, OTHERS EULOGISE ENAHORO

Nigerians on Thursday continued to mourn the demise of the late nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro, who died early Wednesday in Benin, Edo State, at 87.

Governors Olusegun Mimiko, Gbenga Daniel and Rotimi Amaechi of Ondo, Ogun and Rivers states respectively as well as former governors, Segun Oni (Ekiti) and Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) all paid glowing tributes to the late nationalist.

Mimiko described the death of Enahoro as the death of the last of the Titans, “the demise of an exemplar of all that is good and commendable of the golden era of the country nation.”

Mimiko, in a statement, said, “The death of Enahoro at this critical point in the history of Nigeria was a huge loss both in terms of the loss of a great life and the loss of a moderating factor.

“Pa Enahoro, in all his dealings and utterances, was focussed on evolving values that will make the Nigerian federation a unit where all components will feel wanted and loved. Faced with destabilising realities, he recommended the need for a national dialogue to redefine the relationship between the numerous interests so as to avoid debilitating acrimony and unending discord.

“Involved from the unset in the Nigerian enterprise, he remained all his life committed to the goal of its development, growth and renewal. He was unsparing in his criticism of those he considered opposed to the evolution of a truly great nation, those he categorised as the enemies of the people.”

Amaechi and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday observed a minute silence in honour of the Enahoro.

The governor, who called for the minute silence in honour of the nationalist, said Nigerians would miss Pa Enahoro’s invaluable contribution to nation building.

Amaechi, who made the call shortly before presenting his 2011 budget speech to the state legislators, recalled the role the late elder statesman played in Nigeria’s struggle for independence.

“Pa Enahoro’s death is even more painful, especially now that the country is grappling with the struggle against poverty, hunger and other development challenges.

“We wish his soul and those of the faithfully departed eternal rest in the bosom of God,” he prayed.

Daniel described the death of Enahoro as a major loss to the country at a critical juncture in the nation‘s history.

He said with the death of the foremost nationalist, the country had lost the last of the titans who fought for independence and a better society.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Adegbenro Adebajo, the governor said, “Pa Enahoro was a shining example of patriotism, selflessness and fairness. He represented the special breed of Nigerians who put the interests of the nation above primordial and base considerations in actions, words and deeds.

“We recall with pride his role in the agitation to free Nigeria from the clutches of colonialism and his relentless and dogged fight for a better society. Pa Enahoro also played a major role in ensuring that the nation returned to democracy in 1999 through his activities in the National Democratic Coalition. Despite brushes with the law and unjustified incarceration Pa Enahoro remained a committed champion of good governance and equitable society.”

Bafarawa, in a statement, said, “It is with great shock that I received the passing of this wonderful man, a frontline statesman, a father, humanitarian and fighter for the oppressed, Chief Anthony Enahoro. It is sad that though Enahoro passed at the ripe old age of 87, those of us who knew him would have wanted him around as the nation navigates this tortuous balance on the precipice.”

The ACN presidential aspirant prayed to Allah to forgive Chief Anthony Enahoro his sins and grant him eternal rest.

Oni described the death of the late nationalist as “the exit of a man of historical destiny, who was created specially to make a particular mark in the political growth of Nigeria.” “A mighty tree has indeed fallen in Nigeria,” he lamented.

The former Ekiti governor said the deceased was “a first-class patriot, crusader for better Nigeria and an outstanding statesman of impeccable integrity whose death would be a huge loss to Nigeria as a nation and Africa as a region.”

Oni reacted to Enahoro’s death through his Chief Media Aide, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre.