A veteran journalist and politician, Tony Momoh, has died at 81.
Momoh, who was a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday according to family sources, and the President has penned a painful condolence message.
Mr Momoh served as the information minister between 1986 and 1990 during the Ibrahim Babangida military dictatorship.
He started his career with the old Daily Times newspaper in 1962 and later rose to be the paper’s editor. He was until his death a member of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC.
President Buhari in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday, expressed grief at the passing of Momoh – his longtime ally, friend, political loyalist.
He said Momoh stood with him through thick and thin.
“His brand of loyalty is very rare in the politics of today. I will greatly miss him,” he added.
The president recalled that as chairman, Media and Publicity of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) Campaign Organisation in the 2003 and 2007 elections, Momoh ”contributed in no small measure to the growth and strengthening of the organisations.”
Late Momoh was also onetime Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
He noted that Momoh’s contributions led to the eventual formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Buhari commiserated with the media industry on the loss of a veteran who put in a lot to raise the bar of the profession in various ways as editor, manager, administrator, President and Trustee of the Guild of Editors.
He also condoled with the Auchi Kingdom, the government and people of Edo on this great loss, urging those he left behind to sustain his legacies.
The president prayed that God would grant the departed eternal rest and comfort family, friends and political associates in this period of grief.
