By Albert Onafele Iyorah
Chief Anthony Enahoro, CFR, was a great Nigerian and African. He was a true patriot and nationalist who put the nation’s interest above his personal interest.

At a very young age he became the youngest newspaper editor in the history of Nigeria. As a journalist he used his pen to fight for the liberation of Nigeria and racial equality for his fellow country men. In doing this he put his personal life and liberty on the line.

As a politician and parliamentarian he initiated purposeful and robust debates on how to free Nigerians from the shackles of colonialism culminating in his famous motion for Nigeria’s Independence in 1953. Though a section of the country misunderstood him then, he remained resolute and undeterred in his avowed commitment to see Nigeria become truly independent and for the enthronement of democracy.

During the Nigeria crisis in 1966, he stood firmly for the unity of Nigeria and again stood his ground against secession as the leader of the Midwestern Region delegation to the various negotiations when Nigeria was on the verge of disintegration.

He again put his life on the line to support the Yakubu Gowon’s regime’s effort to curtail the Biafrian secessionist efforts when he went globe trotting, explaining Nigeria’s situation to members of the international community.

The statesman and pro-democracy activist in Chief Anthony Enahoro was once again brought to the fore when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 Presidential election adjudged to be the freest election in Nigeria history and won by the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola.

He mobilized all the pro-democracy organizations under one umbrella and christened it National Democratic Coalition NADECO. He used NADECO to fight the contraption known as Interim government put in place by General Ibrahim Babangida after more than eight years of convoluted transition to civil rule and the late Abacha Military Junta which shove the interim government away.

Enahoro again went into exile as a septuagenarian when the Abacha military government wanted him dead or alive. He organized all pro-democracy elements in exile and mounted pressure on late Abacha’s military junta. He fought for the good of the down trodden till his death.

During his time as a member of the western region House of Assembly and a Cabinet Minister under the premiership of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he ensured that all the party manifestoes of the defunct Action Group AG were faithfully implemented. He eradicated guinea worm in his native Esanland, gave them water and ensured their children enjoyed free education.

I advise the upcoming politicians in Esanland and all over Nigeria to emulate the virtues of late Chief Enahoro. They should ensure that the people they represent get a good deal from the government. Genuine and sincere efforts should be made to give the people they represent the basic necessities of life, which constitute the dividends of democracy. This was what late Chief Enahoro uncovered while he was in public service and that is the only way to immortalize him.

May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

•Iyorah, the Osobase of Uromi, is also chairman/CEO, Al-Brett International Ltd.