Chief Tony Anenih: Five years gone, but not forgotten, By Itote Damisa

On Sunday, October 28, 2018, the Iyasele (Prime Minister) of Esan Land, Chief Dr. Anthony Akhakon Anenih, CFR breathed his last and travelled to the great beyond. It’s five years today. How time went so fast!

Yesterday, as I taxied into his expansive residence in the Government Reservation Area of the ancient City of Benin in Edo State, I could not help reminiscing on the illustrious family and political life of the late political icon five solid years on joining his creator. Of course, his political bars dwarfed a major part in his other life pursuits, especially in business and family life. Most people saw Chief Anenih through their political prism and lenses.

This was evident as I drove into his palacial premises where some reparative work was going on; preparatory for today’s memorial service and reception. I immediately sighted a political souvenir, a brand new bag with the inscription “HOPE ’93” accompanied by the picture of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, which on the ledge of his (Anenih’s) unrivalled leadership of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and momentous roles, egged on by his political dexterity and steadfastness catapulted M.K.O as the presumed winner of the 1993 Nigeria’s Presidential election which was later voided by the Military.

I and my friend who picked me up from the airport were so fascinated at the sight of the campaign material. I asked the artisan how he got the bag and if he brought it from home. I knew where he got it from, but I wanted to satisfy my curiosity.

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He responded that he needed a bag to take his tools home and one of the domestic staff gave him the bag. I turned to the domestic staff and he confirmed that he took it from a store in the house. For the unaware, Chief Anenih was the National Chairman of Chief M.K.O Abiola’s SDP in 1993. More than thirty years later, a brand new souvenir still surfaced in Anenih’s house. That was the vintage Anenih! Well-organised, pristine, highly detailed and politically savvy.

He was very fastidious with an uncommon mastership for keeping to time, the records of everything and could recollect almost every discussion, action or inaction with exactitude even in his old age before his demise.

It is apposite at this juncture to quickly issue a disclaimer. I do not in any guise claim to know Chief in-depth.

After all, I only joined him as an aide in the twilight of his life. But I truly, truly cherish the few years I worked closely with the leader. Thus, it will be incongruous to expropriate to myself an in-depth knowledge of the man with many parts.

Indeep, Pope John Paul 1 of blessed memory alluded to this when he said that “in each of us, there are three persons. First, there is you as only you alone know yourself, there is you as your closest of friends know you and finally, there is you as only God, your creator knows you”.

“Our lives are more often regulated and guided by these realities and we will continue to mean different things to different people and the measure of who we are, will finally depend more on what our creator sees in us”.

I cannot agree less with the revered late Pope as Chief Anenih was many positive things to many people. Like all Politicians, he was also clothed negatively by his political adversaries.

To Chief Anenih’s fierce disciples, he was the incomparable political strategist and planner, whom ardent loyalists and admirers would depict as a political colossus to the discomfort of his foes.
Five years ago today, Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih departed the world and the political firmament of Nigeria blazing with political laurels, characterized by his incredible triumphs in politics, business and family life. As all mortals, he had his downlines in politics and life as well.

For instance, after losing the state to the irrepressible Sen. Adams Oshiomhole in 2008, he combated fruitlessly for his political party to regain the occupation of the Government House in Dennis Osadebe Avenue, Benin City. Then in 2015, the PDP to which he was the foremost leader and Chairman of the Party’s Board of Trustees lost control in Abuja effectively prompting him to step away from active partisan politics and translating him into the perfect nationalist and patriot he has always been.

As a family man, he was bereaved a couple of times. An amazing and virtuous wife, a bubbling and enthusiastic son and a few acquaintances of his, sadly predeceased him.

Those were sore moments for him at his advanced age.
These were perhaps the lowest points in his life in my opinion.

Again in 2016, while on a brief visit to the United Kingdom, he had a medical challenge that resulted in an emergency open heart surgery to save his life. Rumours filtered in that he had passed on.

On a fateful afternoon, I started receiving phone calls asking to confirm the truism or otherwise of his passing.

It was shocking because he had only communicated with me less than two hours before the time the rumour got to me.

So I knew it was a lie from the pit of hell. And so it was that against all odds and Doctors’ expectations, the old man survived the surgery and was nicknamed ‘The Miracle Man’ by the U.K. medical doctors.

After a few weeks, he returned to Nigeria and had an elaborate thanksgiving to God in his church, culminating in the launch of his autobiography entitled: “My Life and Nigerian Politics”.

The about 250-page book received a literary review by the erudite Professor of Law, Epiphany Azinge (SAN) on the day of its public unveiling at the International Conference Centre in the City of Abuja.

That gathering had in attendance the cream De la creme of Nigeria’s political, business, traditional and religious leadership, depicting the transcending influence of Chief Anenih across the country
From observation, this experience changed his perception of life. He saw the futility and frailties of humanity.

He kept thanking God for giving him a second time at life. He made peace with his political antagonists.

He became more committed to God, got baptized, and rededicated his life to God and the service of humanity. Made humongous financial donations to churches.
Enlisted the religious services of a Rev. Father who came almost daily for a one-hour bible study session. He would go to YouTube and continuously play gospel and other inspirational songs using his tablet. He was generally at peace with himself, at peace with his environment and at peace with others.

Yours truly is one of those who saw Chief Anenih as a broad-minded patriot, a selfless leader and a peacemaker who played politics of inclusiveness with sincerity and passion for the people and in the allocation of political offices and appointments. In the allocation of political patronage, if he in conjunction with other political leaders denied ‘A’ from you, he would most definitely allocate ‘B’ to you and in most cases, the ‘B’ would be better and juicer.

His political foresight and ability to predict the political future stood him out among his contemporaries.
He drafted political solutions four or five years ahead of the actual occurrence. And when such issues eventually occur, a ready-made solution will just be by the snap of his finger. What a political maestro. The ‘FIXER’ of fixers.

Chief Anenih is no longer with us today, but his strides in public life and his towering influence continue to attest to him today and forever.

On a personal note, no day passes by without his thoughts coming to me. His words of wisdom have charmed my daily social, political and legal interactions with friends, associates and clients.
With a concrete political establishment and family across the country, Chief provided leadership that acclimated and deferred to the welfare of loyalists and followers in the context of very limited political opportunities.

He was dubbed ‘Mr. Fix It’ not because he could solve all problems, but because he acknowledged that any problem, political or otherwise can be unravelled when people willingly shift rigid grounds and compromise not on your principles, but based on respect for the views of others and the protection of the common good of all.
His compassion was always on display and he was ready to promptly apologize if he was wrong on any issue.

The handsome and charismatic Elder Statesman had an extraordinary passion for politics. He responded to all text messages and phone calls, where necessary directed such callers to other political leaders to address their political concerns, while also following them up.
How Chief played his political roles will remain the subject of debate for many years to come. One thing is certain, the Leader was an eminent Nigerian and yet, to say that he is an admiringly eminent and foremost Nigerian patriotic politician is not to immerse in sycophancy.

There are some incontrovertible facts which stood him out. One is his reckless philanthropy. I was a beneficiary of his benevolence.

I recall with much appreciation how he graciously saw me through the Nigerian law school. He awarded me a full scholarship that covered every single thing I needed at the law school.

I was fortunate to be provisionally admitted at the Bwari campus of the law school and whenever I visited his Abuja home, it was certain that I would return to the campus with some wades of the naira notes. Through me, he paid for the tuition of other colleagues of mine even at the master’s level.

You didn’t have to know him personally, just reach out with a genuine request and you will get blessed with his milk of human kindness.
Whenever he was committed to a cause, mistake or retreat were never entertained. If he wanted to get anything done, he must see it to a logical conclusion with no excuses.

For instance, when it was time for the mandatory youth service and I wanted to serve in the FCT, I expected him to just give me a note to the NYSC authorities, but Chief with aura personally led me to the NYSC Headquarters to meet with the Director General for an application to serve in Abuja.

It was like using a sledge hammer to kill a butterfly as the NYSC staff were shocked and the Director General was visibly embarrassed on seeing him, querying why he came by himself when he could have simply phoned. One may argue that Chief wanted to just take a walk, but for me, it was touching and humbling.

Chief Tony Anenih’s place in the history of Edo state and Nigeria is guaranteed. No one can measure up to him. Not now or even in near future.

I have stated in several fora that Chief was in a class of his own.

It would be rare and almost impossible to have someone of his calibre. He was matchless and peerless in virtually everything about him.

His contributions to the growth and development of the Esan Nation, Edo State and Nigeria through human capital empowerment are well documented and need no repetition.

Even before his ultimate departure, I knew that there may never be another political giant like Anenih.
And indeed, this is the current debacle ahead of the governorship election in Edo next year. There is none in his mold that can champion the cause of the emergence of an Edo Governor from Edo Central after the botched Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor governorship that lasted from 2007 to 2008.
That is why we are witnessing the ongoing drama of tens of aspirants jostling for the Governorship seat across all the political parties. It appears to me that Anenih died with the solution to the Edo PDP imbroglio, hence the festering rigmarole and macabre dance within the Party. Those who know the truth and who should tell the truth to power are hibernating because of stomach infrastructure.
If he were to be alive, Chief would have been able to intervene in this friction, just as he did on several issues in the past especially his nationalistic interventions in the Niger-Delta militancy impasse which saw the grant of amnesty to the freedom fighters and the return of peace to the oil-rich region during the formative days of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s short-lived administration.
Chief was a paragon in reconciliation, forgiveness, and accommodation of compelling interests for a fruitful resolution of issues.
I recall In 2014, some youths and student leaders protested to him on an issue. At some point, they became unruly and somewhat disrespectful. He calmly spoke to them and explained in detail his position. He knew what they wanted and so he was very fatherly despite their seeming negative attitude.
At about mid-night, he woke me with a phone call, giving me firm instructions to take all of them for lunch the next day. They say all is well that ends well. Of course, Chief received several ‘gbosas’ from those youths and students’ leaders. This is just an example at my very limited level. Chief was friendly to the youths and accommodating to the students of all sheds of character.

I am also aware of sundry other political mediation he carried out seamlessly. I strongly believe that were Chief to be alive, he would have successfully facilitated the reconciliation of Governor Wike’s led G-5 PDP Governors with the PDP and Atiku which may ultimately lead to victory for the PDP.
As a shepherd, his loyalists now appear to be scattered with each taking his or her political cross while sheltering in diverse political parties. The once potent Anenih’s political dynasty has been further weakened with the recent defections of some of his protegees from the PDP.

Chief Anenih’s unavailability is not just a personal loss to his family, but it is also one that may affect the party he lived and died for ahead of the governorship election next year if reason does not prevail within the Party.
As the fifth anniversary of Anenih’s demise is being commemorated by his beautiful family members and loyalists today, may his soul continue to rest in peace.

Comr. Itote Damisa a lawyer, was a personal aide to Chief Tony Anenih of blessed memory. He can be reached @itotedamisa
Itotedamisa@nigerianbar.ng