Lawan said, “A former Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Paul Unongo was an elder statesman and a committed nationalist both in words and in deed.”
By Jeffrey Agbo
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has expressed his condolences to the family of a former Minister of Steel Development in the Second Republic, Paul Unongo.
The ex-chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) died on Tuesday morning in Jos, Plateau State capital. He was aged 87.
Until his death, the late Unongo was Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
In a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, Lawan also condoled with the government and people of Benue State on the passing of the illustrious political leader.
“A former Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Paul Unongo was an elder statesman and a committed nationalist both in words and in deed,” said Lawan.
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“He was a principled and irrepressible politician, who had clear positions on national issues and was outspoken on what he believed in throughout his political life.
“The former minister of Steel Development will be remembered for his contributions to good governance and political development of Nigeria.”
Lawan prayed God Almighty to grant those that Unongo left behind the fortitude to bear his loss and to grant his soul eternal rest.
Born on September 26, 1935, Unongo belonged to the Kwaghngise-Anure-Abera ancestry in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.