In a tribute, President Buhari acknowledged the close relationship he had with Unongo, saying: “In all the positions he held as a politician and public officer, he displayed a high level of decorum.”
By Jeffrey Agbo
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sorrow over the death 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.
Buhari, in a statement on Tuesday night by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the country has lost an elder statesman.
Buhari recalled that Unongo held several political positions and was involved in constitutional conferences.
Until his death, the late Unongo was Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
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In a tribute, President Buhari acknowledged the close relationship he had with Unongo, saying: “In all the positions he held as a politician and public officer, he displayed a high level of decorum. He was a colossus in public life, very articulate and witty. He served his community and the nation extremely well.
“My deepest condolences go to the bereaved family, the government and people of Benue State.”
Born on September 26, 1935, Unongo belonged to the Kwaghngise-Anure-Abera ancestry in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The elder statesman was the pioneer Secretary General of the defunct Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) and an ally of the late Nnamdi Azikiwe.
