By Dele Ade, Ihechi Enyinnaya(Lagos) and Agbenu Oyale(Abuja)
Condolence messages from prominent Nigerians have continued to pour in for late former minister of Information, Prince e Tony Momoh.
President Muhammadu Buhari in a condolence message, expressed grief at the passing of his long time ally, friend, political loyalist and former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh.
According to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) on Monday, while reacting to the passage, President Buhari said Prince Momoh stood with him through thick and thin, adding: “His brand of loyalty is very rare in the politics of today. I will greatly miss him.”
The president recalled that as chairman, Media and Publicity of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Campaign Organisation in the 2003 and 2007 elections as well as Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Momoh contributed in no small measure to the growth and strengthening of the organisations, leading to the eventual formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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 his death, the president prayed that God will grant the departed eternal rest and comfort family, friends and political associates in this period of life.
Former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has expressed shock over the death of former Information Minister, Chief Tony Momoh.
He described the late Momoh as a statesman, patriot and exemplary journalist.
In a condolence message on Monday night by his Media Office, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Chief Tony Momoh.
“I recall reading his interview in one of the national newspapers a few days ago where he restated his love of this country and his belief in its fut ure.
“He was a statesman and patriot resolutely committed to the unity and progressive development of this country.
Exemplary journalist, he earned domestic and global recognition as Editor of the old Daily Times in those challenging days for journalists.
“He was not just a journalist, he was also a notable politician. He was one of the true founders of the APC.
Tinuhu said: “As a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Momoh as Chairman of the CPC worked day and night to bring about the historic merger with the ACN and other parties that led to the APC.
“His death is a great loss at this time his wise counsel is needed in the country.
My condolences to his family. I pray that God give them the strength to overcome this loss. I commiserate with the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, the Guild of Editors and indeed with the Media Confraternity.
“I also mourn with the government and people of Edo State and the entire country.”
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress, APC and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have reacted to the death of Tony Momoh.
The APC prayed for the soul of the Edo-born politician to rest in peace in a tweet on Monday.
The party tweeted, “RIP Prince Tony Momoh, former National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the legacy political parties that metamorphosed into our great party, the governing APC.”
In his reaction, Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the PDP, described the late politician as a good man.
He tweeted, “A good man, Prince Tony Momoh, has gone home. The veteran journalist, politician and former minister was an avowed apostle of politics without bitterness.
“And like the prince he was, carried himself with dignity and respect. He will be sorely missed.”