By Aiyeku Timothy
On Monday, 1st February, Nigerians were greeted with the death of a former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh.
The eminent journalist, politician and lawyer, who held the title of Yerima of Auchi and served as a minister during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida between 1986 and 1990, passed on in Abuja at age 81.
Momoh, a prince of Auchi Kingdom, Edo State, was the national chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged with the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a section of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Led by President Muhammadu Buhari, tributes have been pouring in from government officials and national icons to celebrate the life of the media guru.
Renowned politicians; Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu, journalist and former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, Senate President Lawan, former Governor of Abia State Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, former Delta State Governor James Ibori and many others commiserated with the family and associates of the former Minister of Information and Culture.
President Buhari described him as his longtime ally, friend, and political loyalist.
The President’s message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
Buhari commiserated with the media industry on the loss of a veteran who put in a lot to raise the bar of the profession as editor, manager, administrator, President and Trustee of the Guild of Editors, urging them to sustain his legacies.
While also condoling with the Auchi Kingdom, the government and people of Edo State on this great loss, the President prayed that God will grant the departed eternal rest and comfort.
Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu described Momoh’s death as a colossal loss to Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, on Monday, said Nigeria would miss the rich experience and knowledge of the former Daily Times Editor, especially his contributions to national issues through politics and his editorial contents.
He said: “As a democrat, he played active roles in the formation of various political platforms at the transition stage of Nigeria from military dictatorship to civilian rule. He led his former party, the Congress for Political Change (CPC) to form the APC with other political Parties and contributed positively to the party’s victories in the 2015 and 2019 general elections.”
APC Will Miss Tony Momoh, Lawan, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who mourned a Momoh in a statement commiserated with the government and people of Edo State and the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he was a highly respected leader, on the loss.
He noted that Prince Momoh was also a key facilitator of the emergence of the APC in 2014.
“The APC will miss this principled political leader particularly in this period that the party is repositioning as a grassroots-based political party and for improved performance of its leadership of our great country,” Lawan said.
The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, described the late Prince Tony Momoh as a consummate politician whose impact in the nation’s development won’t be forgotten.
“The entire Afemai community has lost a father, mentor and brother,” Shuaibu said while noting that his death is “a monumental and an irreplaceable loss”.
Paying tribute to Momoh, the APC said his death was a monumental loss to the progressive fold.
The party in a statement by the Secretary Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, said the ruling party was deeply saddened by the death of the frontline journalist.
He said: “A distinguished journalist, lawyer, the Yerima of Auchi, politician, publicist, author, the former Minister of Information and Culture truly lived a storied life which will be a source of inspiration to present and future generations.
“The late Prince Tony Momoh was a strong advocate for internal party democracy which allowed for open, consultative and fair party processes.”
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who said Momoh was committed to the good of the country, prayed to God to grant him eternal rest. He called for the deepening of the ethos of journalism through the emulation of the departed media guru.
The Senate Chief Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kali, said the late media guru contributed to the social, economic and political development of the country in various capacities.
Kalu also commiserated with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholders in media industry, stressing that the deceased left indelible footprints in the annals of journalism in the country.
Former Delta State Governor James Ibori recalled that Momoh was an accomplished journalist and the first Chairman, Board of Directors of the Independent Newspapers Ltd (INL).
He described him as an eminent public servant, a totally detribalised Nigerian, and a pillar of the APC.
In a statement, Ibori said: “Though Prince Tony Momoh and I were never in the same party all through, he was civilized enough to respect the boundaries of friendship.”
Also, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has lamented the death of one of his predecessors, Prince Tony Momoh.
”To ensure the success of the new party, Prince Momoh and his colleagues from the other merging parties ensured that the parties were not just dissolved, but also that their registration certificates were returned to INEC, which then cancelled them,” he said.
A former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, also described the late former Information and Culture Minister as a man of peace, a bridge builder and a trailblazer.
“I received with disbelief and shock, the passing of Prince Tony Momoh, the Yerima of Auchi Kingdom. He played politics without bitterness, but with exceptional maturity and a unique ability to accommodate diverse opinions even when they were against his own beliefs.” He said.
