Some prominent Nigerians, Sunday, commiserated with the family of Chief Tony Anenih, a one-time Board of Trustees Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over his demise.
Chief Tony Anenih, 85, died on Sunday evening at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
Bukola Saraki, Senate President Sunday tweeted “Chief Tony Anenih, was a consummate elder 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.”
Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (@HEDankwambo) tweeted Sunday “I am deeply saddened by the death of Chief Anthony Anenih – a true humanist, an Elder Statesman, a great leader and believer in one United Nigeria. His many contributions to the governance issues in Nigeria will forever be remembered. My condolences to the family.”
According to Wikipedia, Mr Anthony Akhakon Anenih was born in Uzenema-Arue in Uromi. In 1951 he joined the Nigeria Police Force in Benin City. Working at home, he obtained secondary school qualifications.
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 (ASCON), Lagos. He retired from the police as a Commissioner of police.
Mr. Anenih was a state chairman of Nigeria’s then ruling party, NPN, between 1981 and 1983. Mr. Anenih was also the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1993 under whose platform Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Mr Abiola was later imprisoned by the Sani Abacha dictatorship with many of his supporters accusing Mr Anenih of betraying the June 12 cause.
Upon return to democracy in 1999, Anenih was also a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party and was appointed Works Minister by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was accused of masterminding the mismanagement of tens of billions of naira while he held sway as works minister.
