In Tony Uranta, Nigeria, Niger Delta lost a committed activist, says Diri
By Emma Ogbuehi
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described the death of Mr. Tony Uranta, executive secretary of foremost advocacy group, United Niger Delta Energy Development and Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), as a painful loss to Nigeria, Niger Delta and indeed the Ijaw nation.
Uranta, who was a member of the defunct Federal Government Technical Committee on Niger Delta, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) among others, passed on Wednesday after a protracted illness.
Governor Diri, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Thursday, said Uranta was a committed activist and advocate for environmental justice and good governance not only in his Niger Delta region but also in Nigeria.
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The Bayelsa governor noted that he was a dogged fighter, who dedicated his entire life to a cause he believed in.
He said despite the state of his health, Uranta was consistent and unrelenting, noting that he still had the presence of mind and the courage to make his voice heard on critical issues about Nigeria and the Niger Delta.
“Uranta’s demise is saddening and painful after the effort he made to stay alive. His battle was courageous just as his determination was commendable.
“Even on his sick bed, Uranta’s unrelenting voice and contribution to national discourse was profound. He lived and died for a cause he believed in. Nigeria, Niger Delta and the Ijaw nation have lost a committed activist and advocate for good governance.”
Diri prayed God to strengthen his family and community with the fortitude to accept His will, which he said no human can question.
Diri’s tributes for Uranta, came on the heels of similar eulogies by fellow activists Prof. Pat Utomi, Olisa Agbakoba, Olawale Okunniyi and others under aegis of the Pro-National Conference Organisations and Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), who on behalf of the Nigerian Civil Society Movement, issued a statement on his passage.
The group, in a statement signed by the Director-General, who is also spokesperson for PRONACO, Olawale Okunniyi, recalled “Uranta’s various contributions towards the advocacy for constitutional restructuring of Nigeria amidst stiff resistance from those who benefit from the jaundice and corruptive political structure of Nigeria.”
It lauded his contributions to national conferences, especially the 2014 National Confab while promising to immortalise his legacy.
The late Uranta served as the Executive Secretary of the National Summit Group, NSG and UNDESS towards the facilitation of the 2014 National Confab, after he had earlier played some supportive roles in mobilising Nigerians for the People’s National Conference hosted by PRONACO between 2005 and 2006 under the leadership of Chief Tony Enahoro and Prof Wole Soyinka.