Apex-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described the demise of Second Republic power and steel minister, and erstwhile leader of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Chief Paul Unongo as a great loss to the nation.
Ohanaeze spokesman, Dr Chiedozie Ogbonnia, in a statement on behalf of the president -general, Ambassador George Obiozor eulogised the late Tiv-born NEF leader as foremost Nigerian patriot, astute administrator, bridge builder, courageous and sagacious politician, moral edifice, elder statesman, foremost minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stating that the organisation received the news with sadness.
Ogbonnia particularly pointed out that Unongo was a strong believer in the call for the restructuring of the country for effective and efficient service delivery.
The statement titled: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Condoles Northern Elders’ Forum”, Ogbonnia said though Unongo was culturally and emotionally attached to his native Tiv ethnic group, he never lost his northern orientation and the need for sustainable relationship with the other parts of the country based on equity, justice and fairness.
He described Unongo as an apostle of excellence, a social crusader and political activist.
While describing Unongo as a detribalised Nigerian, Ohanaeze stated that the Tiv-born elder statesman once recounted how as a small boy, he(Unongo) donated six shillings in support of the Zikist Movement in 1946. Based on his broad mind and convictions that Nigeria needed a cerebral pragmatic intellectual, he was to campaign for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to be elected a president of Nigeria in 1979.
He stated that the country would certainly miss the wise counsel of the elder statesman.
“The president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor recalls with intense nostalgia, his relationship with Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Chief Paul Unongo, Chief Aper Aku, Senator J .S . Tarka, Chief Solomon Lar, among others during the Second Republic under President Shehu Shagari. Obiozor, lamented that a foremost Nigerian patriot is gone.
“While the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and indeed the entire Ndigbo send our condolences to the immediate Unongo family; the Governor, Samuel Ortom and the good people of Benue State; the Paramount Ruler of the Tiv Nation, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse; Professor Ango Abdullahi and the Northern Elders Forum; and indeed, the community of Nigerian patriots, it is our prayers that the Almighty will grant his soul an eternal rest in his bosom”, Ogbonnia said.
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