President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the demise of Dr. Paul Unongo, saying that the country has lost an elder statesman.
A former Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum and the country’s Minister of Steel Development during the Second Republic, Dr Unongo had 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.
In a tribute, President Buhari acknowledged the close relationship he had with the deceased, adding that “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 to the bereaved family, and the government and people of Benue State.”
“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’
Earlier on Tuesday, the Former Minister of Power and Steel in the Second Republic, Paul Unongo, was confirmed dead.
Unongo, who hailed from Jato Aka in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, died Tuesday morning in Jos, the Plateau State capital at the age of 87.
A strong politician, he aspired to govern Benue State in 1983 but lost to Aper Aku of blessed memory.
In 2017, Unongo succeeded Maitama Sule as the chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum.
Until his death, Unongo was the chairman of the Governing Council of Nigerian Educational Research Development Council.
Born on September 26, 1935, Paul Unongo, belonged to the Kwaghngise-Anure-Abera ancestry, in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
