ON December 15, 2010, Nigeria lost one of its most cherished nationalist, Chief Anthony Eronsele Enahoro at the age of 87.
APPARENTLY, the death of Chief Enahoro threw the entire nation into a pensive mood especially against the backdrop of the tragedy, coming at a time when his political wisdom was needed to sustain genuine democratic practice in the country.
IT is unique that, in the nation’s political history Chief Anthony Enahoro salvaged Nigeria from the shackles of colonial imperialism and deprivations when in 1953 he moved a motion for the nation’s political independence.
CHIEF Anthony Enahoro fought tirelessly to ensure that the nation’s independence which had eluded us as a nation became a reality.
The doggedness of the late sage finally culminated in Nigeria’s attainment of its independence in 1960.
AS an elder statesman, late Chief Enahoro took on the gauntlet and participated actively in the repositioning of the nation’s democratic process.
SIGNIFICANTLY, late Chief Enahoro at the age of thirty and as a lawmaker on March 31, 1953 began the political struggle for the emancipation of Nigeria when he moved a motion for the nation’s political independence from the British colonialist.
INTERESTINGLY, that dream was later realized in 1960 which today has become a day of celebration of the nation’s political independence. Born on the 22 of July, 1923, late Chief Enahoro attended government school Uromi and Government School, Owo in Ondo State.
HE proceeded to Kings College, Lagos where he excelled in a distinguished career as a journalist.
Chief Enahoro was the editor of The Southern Nigerian Defender based in Ibadan which was owned by the Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
WHILE practicing journalism, Chief Enahoro was pragmatically involved in politics which is today, one of his legacies worthy of emulation.
LATE Chief Enahoro was also a co-founder and chairman of the National Democratic Coalition, (NADECO) which was formed to oppose military dictatorship.
DURING his life time, Chief Anthony Enahoro bagged several awards from various distinguished institutions and associations, including an award of a DSC, honoris causa by the University of Benin in 1972 and was conferred with the national award of Commander of the order of the Federal Republic, (CFR) in 1982.
CHIEF Enahoro also fought relentlessly for a sovereign National Conference which he believed was one way of bringing about nation building. Indeed, these are legacies of a man who spent the better part of his life fighting for the interest of all Nigerians.
IRONICALLY, Chief Enahoro who fought for the Nigerian Common Masses all his life was born into royalty. His mother was a princess (Princess Enibokun Okojie from Uromi Royal House. His maternal grand father HRH Ogbidi Okojie I, King of Uromi who with Oba Ovonramen of Benin fought the British Government to a standstill during the colonial era. Chief Enahoro was the first Nigeria member of Ikoyi Club. He was the first Nigerian Golfer and the youngest editor of any major newspaper at the age of 2l.
CHIEF Enahoro was jailed three times by the British government for sedition in 1946 and 1947.
TODAY is an opportunity to reflect on the life and times of a Nigerian and elder statesman, illustrious son and political colosus who used his political inspiration to ensure massive transformation in the nation’s body polity. This is why as a nation, we must accept it as a challenge to always contribute to the national project of developing the country by ensuring that the Enahoro dream continues to linger on.
WE want to commend the Journalists in Edo State for their initiatives to honour this great son of Esan land with the initiative of inculcating the virtue of honouring our heroes past and promoting the culture of reviving and sustaining the study of history of great men like Chief Anthony Enahoro.
