NGIGE MOURNS TONY MOMOH, SAYS HE HELPED BUHARI TO PICK RUNNING MATE
Oru Leonard
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has paid glowing tribute to late Prince Tony Momoh, former Minister of Information and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he played a pivotal role in the choice of President Buhari’ s running in 2015.
According to him, “ his death has brought to an end, a beautiful chapter in defining national ideals.”
A statement from Sen. Chris Ngige Media Office expressed shock at the passing on of the elder statesman, describing it as a colossal loss to the nation.
“ I spoke with Momoh nearly a week ago (24/01/2021), on his upcoming birthday, but incapable of seeing through the plans of the maker of mankind ! His was a long trajectory of excellence in professional journalism and deft, patient and principled political undertakings.
“He was the founding Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change ( CPC) one of the legacy political parties that formed the APC.
“And while we laid the building blocks of the APC, he chaired one of the Party’s Ad-hoc Committee of Seven Wise Men, comprising Bisi Akande, representing South West, Audu Ogbe- North Central, myself- Sen. Chris Ngige – South East, Danjuma Goje- North East, Sam Jaja- South South and Ahmed Yerima representing the North West,” the statement said.
“ The Committee was charged to brainstorm and come up with an unassailable report to assist the Party’s Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari choose his running mate from the southern part of the country. We were given just an hour but Momoh, painstaking, thorough and meticulous, decided a little otherwise. We spent three hours but answered all the critical questions and cleared all knotty issues; helping our presidential candidate choose an acceptable running mate.”
The statement added that the history of journalism in Nigeria can hardly be written without a voluminous chapter dedicated to Prince Tony Momoh.
“His writings and seminal contributions to journalism will remain a reference material to students and scholars of journalism, etching his name in the pantheon of diverse accomplished Nigerian professionals.”
Recall that late Tony Momoh, 81, died on Monday according to family sources.
Prince Momoh served as the information minister between 1986 and 1990 during the Ibrahim Babangida military dictatorship.
He started his career with the old Daily Times newspaper in 1962 and later rose to be the paper’s editor. He was until his death a member of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC.
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grief at his death, describing Mr Momoh as his long time ally.
The president, in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, recalled that as chairman, Media and Publicity of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) Campaign Organisation in the 2003 and 2007 elections as well as Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the late Auchi prince contributed in no small measure to the growth and strengthening of the organisations, leading to the eventual formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
President Buhari commiserated with the media industry on the loss of a veteran who put in a lot to raise the bar of the profession in various ways 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 who said Momoh’s loyalty is rare in Nigeria prayed that God will grant the departed eternal rest and comfort his family, friends and political associates in this period of grief.
