A former
works minister, Tony Anenih, is dead.
His death was confirmed by
multiple sources including his son who said the family would release a
statement later tonight.
Mr Anenih, 85, died on Sunday
evening at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, where he was receiving treatment for an
undisclosed ailment, a family source said.
Born in Edo State, Mr Anenih was
one of the most influential politicians of his era. He was nicknamed ‘Mr Fix
It’ for his ability to manipulate the electoral process.
Mr Anenih was a state chairman of
Nigeria’s then ruling party, NPN, between 1981 and 1983. He is believed to have
played a major role in the controversial 1983 general elections including in his
home state of Bendel (now Edo State) where he helped Samuel Ogbemudia to
victory.
Mr Anenih was also the national
chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1993 under whose platform Moshood
Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Mr Abiola was later
imprisoned by the Sani Abacha dictatorship with many of his supporters accusing
Mr Anenih of betraying the June 12 cause.
Upon return to democracy in 1999,
Mr Anenih was also a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party and was
appointed works minister by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was accused of
masterminding the mismanagement of tens of billions of naira while he held sway
as works minister.
Details later…
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