Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have expressed grief over the death of one of the founding fathers of the APC, Tony Momoh, who died on Monday at the age of 81.
This was contained in a statement titled, “Condolence Message on the Death of Prince Tony Momoh,” signed by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Abubakar Bagudu, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Bagudu who is also the governor of Kebbi State said in the statement that he and his colleagues received the news of the elder statesman’s death with a heavy heart and gratitude to God for a life well blessed and spent.
He said, “We, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), join the Momoh Royal family, our party leaders and members, in particular President Muhammadu Buhari, people and government of Edo State and the nation to pray for the repose of the soul of our dear and beloved Prince Tony Momoh.
“Being one of the founding fathers of our great party, All Progressives Congress, all leaders and members of the party will continue to celebrate his inspiring leadership, vision and belief in the unity of Nigerian progressives’ politicians being the foundation for Nigeria’s political transformation.
“As a former CPC National Chairman, he was able to demonstrate that the determining factor for any successful leader is sacrifice. Together with the leaders of all our legacy parties, Chief Bisi Akande and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, he was able to inspire all of us to make all the sacrifices required to make the emergence of APC in 2013 possible.
“As a former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he will always be remembered for his passionate campaigns for national unity and peaceful coexistence. His death is a loss to the nation, Nigerian progressive community, the media and all patriots.”
The governors prayed to God Almighty to grant the family the fortitude to bear this heavy loss.
In its statement titled, “PDP Saddened by Tony Momoh’s Death,” which was signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, on Wednesday, the main opposition party expressed sadness over the death describing it as a huge loss to the nation.
The statement read in part, “The party recalled Chief Momoh’s roles in the development of the Nigerian media industry especially as the editor of the Daily Times Newspapers.
“The PDP commiserates with Momoh’s family as well as the government and people of Edo State and prays God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
