It is really an understatement for me to say I was shocked by the news of your sudden departure to the great beyond. On Saturday 27th May 2023 you visited me in my house at Maitama – Abuja where both of us had lunch and you enjoyed your favorite – the Salad Master Salad. We then had a very lengthy heart to heart discussion, the details of which are still floating in my mind. On Sunday night 28th of May 2023 we spoke on telephone and we had a very lively chat. You told me you were lying down on your bed. Therefore the news of your departure arriving on the 29th of May was most unbelievable and indeed beyond a shock to me.

The Ezomo of the World!

The news of your passing is reverberating across the country and the world. Grief stricken family members, friends, associates, allies and well wishers are all pouring condolence messages through various media and all expressing the highest regards they have for you and indeed profoundly sympathizing your sudden departure. I am immensely sad too but to God be the glory as I join this great mourning crowd to express my pain at your passing to the great beyond.

In the 80s, I recall that you lived one street away from me in Victoria Island Lagos. Your house was easily identified by that huge structure of a massive Television Dish, the signature of your breakthrough into Radio and Television broadcasting. Indeed I obtained a Television Broadcast license with you on the same day but as I moved on to serve as Foreign Affairs Minister and abandoned the project which you made your a super reality.

You are the gifted trail blazer who pioneered the first ever indigenous shipping line in Africa in 1980. You founded the first FM station in the country – Ray Power, and then Africa’s first Satellite Television Station – AIT. Without a doubt, you became the Media Mogul in Africa.

Through Ray Power and AIT you have perfectly advanced the best interest of our country, Africa and humanity. Thank you for my personal programs that you have covered so admirably.

I do speak for a large variety of groups and a good number of colleagues in expressing deep appreciation to you for your immense contribution to our Nation’s Politics and in particular the PDP. You are indeed departing with your head held up very high as a most courageous defender of Truth, Freedom and Democracy. You are a most reliable, trusted ally whose calibre, there are not many to be found around today. I can confirm that for anything you are committed to, you will pursue with utmost zeal, superlative trust, confidence and effort.

How I do cherish those your regular midnight visits to me during which we passionately share information and examined in detail the future of our country and state. This I will sorely miss as there can be no replacement.

You will remain that perfect example of a true Nigerian that had successfully broken the disturbing tribal and religious boundaries, found close friends and built alliances that cut across the whole country.

My brother, you had just turned 70 and entered the realms of senior citizen of our country, into an era that your deep and qualitative thoughts and experience would have been immensely useful to our Nation. To lose you at this critical time is immensely regrettable.

The Ezomo,
Your memory will be immensely treasured by your family and multitude of friends, by the rural people of Wepa Wano – Agenebode, by all of us from Edo State, South South Nigeria particularly and indeed the whole of the Nigerian Nation.
Please travel safely as you go to meet our creator.

Adieu My dear Friend, Rest In Perfect Peace.

High Chief Tom Ikimi CON

I Received the News of Your Passing To The Great Beyond With Immense Sadness, But After Pondering And Having Deep Reflections, I Give Overwhelming Thanks To God Almighty For the Spectacular Life that you lived and the outstanding qualities of The Great Gifts With Which God so bountifully Endowed You.

Little wonder therefore that today, the Media is Replete with Hair Raising Accounts, By Peoples Across the World, Of the over 85 years of the Wonderful and blissful nature of your Journey on Planet Earth.

You Have Been the Quintessential Persona, A Media Icon, The Prolific Nigerian Journalist Who Under the Legendary Pen Name – Peter Pan – Brought Immense Joy, Laughter, And Tears Rolling Down Several Cheeks with Your Nerve Cracking, Terse but Highly Incisive Articles.

As A Great and Prolific Writer, Your First Book “How To Be A Nigerian”, Written In 1966, Is Still The Best Seller Today. It Was Also My Privilege to Chair In 2015, The Abuja Launch of Your Famous Book “Then Spoke The Thunder” – A 750 Page Treatise containing Startling Reflections On The Crisis Of Leadership In Nigeria over 50 years.

You Are a Proud Younger Brother of Our Legendary Political Father Chief Anthony Enahoro from Uromi – Esanland – Edo State – Nigeria. Esanland Is Extremely Proud of Your Family and Indeed Extremely Proud of You.

On A Personal Note, I recall With Deepest Gratitude All the Advice and Assistance You consistently Gave Me During My Tenure as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister at One of The Most challenging Periods in Our Nation’s History. You lived A life Of a Great Sportsman and Participated in Various Sporting activities, But I Most Earnestly Cherish the Time I Spent Playing Golf with You at The IBB Golf Club Abuja and the Benin Golf Club, Benin City, Edo State.

I Wish You a Very Safe Journey Home to Our Creator.

Adieu, My Dear Brother and Friend, Rest In Perfect Peace

High Chief Tom Ikimi CON

It will indeed be a long time to come before many of us will come to terms with the reality of the passing of Onwalen Chief Anthony Akahon Anenih CFR, the Iyasere of Esan land, one time Federal Minister of Works and, until recently, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Of The People’s Democratic Party – PDP.

Nature has once again struck to claim from this terrestrial planet, a political giant who in the last three decades or so traversed our country Nigeria menacingly and emphatically recording historic political victories and conquests which earned him the befitting title of  “Mr Fix it”. When he said there was no vacancy in Aso Rock indeed there wasn’t any vacancy!

Chief Tony Anenih, a meritorious Policeman, successful business man, farmer, a political icon and leader, developed and established a towering image not only in his home land – Esan, in Edo State but right across Nigeria where he consistently presided over intricate and delicate matters with firmness, utmost dexterity and finesse. The wise counsel of this very soft spoken leader, most direly needed at this critical period of our Nation’s history will be sorely missed.

His departure, to join his ancestors at this time, as has been the case of a number of other notables before him from our dear Esan Land, has created an immense vacuum that may be difficult to fill.

We the Esan People have lost a great voice in Nigeria. The Edo and the South South people of Nigeria have lost a foremost patriot. I will personally miss his regular visits to me particularly on my birthdays.

Chief Anthony Anenih lived a remarkably fulfilled life; he played his part well and has now taken a glorious exit. I wish him a safe onward journey as he goes to meet his maker and pray that God will receive him into his bosom.

I also pray for his family to have the abundance of God’s grace to bear the irreparable loss and the strength to continue his good works.

I Am Grieved And Deeply Saddened As I Reflect & Ponder Over The Passing Of *HE Koffi Annan, Former Secretary General Of The United Nations.*

I Encountered The Distinguished Diplomat in 1997 When He Was Secretary General Of The UN & I Was Honoured To Serve My Country, Nigeria, In The Capacity Of Foreign Minister.

As First African Ever To Assume The Exalted Office, He Evinced All The Qualities Of A Consummate Diplomat & An Impeccable Gentleman – An Exquisite Epitome Of Representation Of The Black race Who Secured In His Time With Unquestionable Merit – The Nobel Peace Prize.

I have Fond Memories Of His Immense Contributions & Support To My Successful Execution Of Varied And Delicate Diplomatic Assignments I was Entrusted with.

His Passing At The Ripe Age Of Eighty, Without Doubt Brings To An End A Remarkable & Fulfilling Earthly Journey.

My Sincere Condolences To His Family & Loved Ones, To Ghana, To Africa, To The Black Race & To Humanity As A Whole.

– High Chief Tom Ikimi FNIA KSG CON

Senator Olorogun Felix Ibru is the quintessential distinguished Nigerian of so many parts who is extremely comfortable in operating at all levels of our varied and complicated society. He dines comfortably with Kings and is known to enjoy his “mama put” lunch from the wayside “buka”.