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Nigerian former
head of state, Yakubu Gowon said yesterday in Benin that if Nigeria
must truly realize its vision of a great nation, the sacrifices, dreams
and ideas of the nation’s departed heroes must not be allowed to be in
vain. Speaking at the final passage rites of the late nationalist and
political icon, Anthony Enahoro, at the Ogbe Hard Court of Samuel
Ogbemudia Stadium, Mr. Gowon, described the late elder statesman as an
“exceptionally gifted democrat who defended Nigeria’s unity and fought
for her through democracy.”

He however told the
audience that Mr. Enahoro left Nigeria with the regret that he was not
able to see a Nigeria of his dream as enunciated in his NADECO and
PRONACO philosophy. He challenged all Nigerians to continue to give Mr.
Enahoro’s vision a look, and try to arrive at his dream of a
full-fledged Nigerian democracy.

“No tribute, brief
or long; no encomium, expansive or restricted, is enough to acknowledge
his achievement in life and his greatness,” he said.

Mr. Gowon recalled
his school days in the 1940s when Mr. Enahoro was a young political
firebrand and a budding political thorn in the flesh to the colonial
masters of the day.

“We used to look at him in awe,” he said.

Mr. Gowon said that
he never dreamt that he would meet Mr. Enahoro until his government
released him from prison after the late politician was jailed by the
colonial government for a ‘treasonable felony’. Mr. Enahoro served as
federal commissioner of information in Mr. Gowon’s administration.

“His performance as commissioner was exceptional as it was exemplary,” Mr. Gowon said.

In his tribute,
Governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomhole, called on Nigerians to fight
their oppressors as taught by Mr. Enahoro, saying that he was not given
to lamentations.

“He taught us how to engage, not how to beg,” he said. “He believed that if something is wrong, it must be challenged openly.”

According to Mr.
Oshiomhole, the lesson from Mr. Enahoro is that a man who fights on the
side of the people cannot be imprisoned by man.

Governor of Delta
State Emmanuel Uduaghan said ideas propagated by the late activist,
especially fiscal federalism founded on ethnic nationalities were
worthy of consideration, while Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said the
clarity of the late Enahoro’s vision for Nigeria was infectious.

In his tribute, former governor of Edo State, John Odigie-Oyegun
described Mr. Enahoro as a man of undisputed courage and tremendous
vision, pointing out that the democracy Nigerians enjoy today is
traceable to the vision of the late Enahoro. Other dignitaries who paid
tribute to the late sage were Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida
Aliu, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, David Edebiri, Tom Ikimi, Ayo
Adebanjo, Ndubuisi Kanu, Ayo Opadokun, Frank Kokori, and Itse Sagay.