Elder States-man Pa Enahoro Passes On

Elder States-man Pa Enahoro Passes On

One of Nigeria 's elder statesmen, Chief Anthony Enahoro has passed on, at the age of 87 .

Chief Enahoro died early on Wednesday in his home in Benin City , Southern Nigeria .

There has been anxiety over his health since last month when he was admitted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital .

Political Career

Chief Enahoro, a first republic federal legislator, moved the motion for Nigeria 's independence and has had a long and distinguished career in politics.

He was a delegate to most of the constitutional conferences leading to the independence of Nigeria in 1960.

Chief Anthony Enahoro, (born 22 July 1923) is one of Nigeria 's foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. He was born the eldest of twelve children in Uromi in the present Edo State of Nigeria .

Educated at the Government School Uromi, Government School Owo and King's College, Lagos , Chief Enahoro became the editor of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe's newspaper, the Southern Nigerian Defender, Ibadan , in 1944 at the age of 21, thus becoming Nigeria 's youngest editor ever.

He later became the editor of Zik's Comet, Kano , 1945-49, also associate editor West African Pilot, Lagos , editor-in-chief Morning Star, 1950-53.

Chief Enahoro became a foundation member of Chief Awolowo ' s Action Group party; secretary and chairman, Ishan Division Council; member Western House of assembly; and later member, Federal House of Representatives in 1951.

He later became Minister of Home Affairs in the old western region. He was the Opposition spokesman on Foreign policy and Legislative Affairs in the Federal House of Representatives, 1959-63.

During the 1962 crisis in the old Western region, he was detained along with other Action Group members. Accused of treason during the Awolowo alleged coup trial, Chief Enahoro escaped to the United Kingdom in 1963.

He was extradited from the UK and imprisoned for treason. In 1966, he was released by the Military Government.

Chief Enahoro was conferred with the National Honour of Commander, Order of the Federal Republic , CFR, in 1982, and he is the chairman of the Movement for National Reformation, MNR; as well as the Pro-National Conference Organisation, PRONACO.

He was awarded honorary DSC by the University of Benin in 1972. Among his publications include ‘The Treatise Fugitive Offender '.

Chief Enahoro played golf and followed cricket ardently.

Chief Enahoro was married to Helen Ediae and had five children- Kenneth, Eugene, Bella, Victor and Gabriel.

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