By Egbe Attah
The Benue South Progressives Forum otherwise known as “G9” has expressed sadness over the passing of Wanteregh Paul Unongo.
The forum, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Oche, and made available to The Voice on Friday, described Unongo as a nationalist, statesman, community and spiritual leader. It added that his services to Nigeria, Benue and his immediate community while he lived were immeasurable.
The statement read partly: “He was simply a good man who believed in genuine reward for hard work.
“Elder Paul Unongo lived a productive life and was well intentioned in all his assignments but was failed by his society, yet he remained a good man.
“His effort towards creating an egalitarian society where social justice, equity and good conscience would be the order of the day was randomly thwarted by the people for whom he lived his Life.
“In his twilight on earth, he fought very assiduously for the realization of Idoma Governor but this deep desire and struggles were slaughtered on the alter of ethnicity, irrational ideological practices and inadequate understanding of good neighbourliness.
“Elder Paul Unongo was an outstanding leader, a social crusader, courageous, trailblazer, a humanist who fought for the poor, the dejected and downtrodden, an advocate for rational democratic practices and an accomplished politician.”
The statement maintained that G9 and indeed the entire Zone C mourn with the family, Benue people, particularly their Tiv brothers and Nigeria and prayed God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the great loss.
Born on September 26, 1935, Unongo, belongs to the Kwaghngise-Anure-Abera ancestry, in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.