From Teryima Ajijah,Jos
An elder statesman and second republic Minister of Steel Development, Wantaregh Paul Unongo is dead.
A family source, who is also a tenant and resident at his estate in Jos, along old Airport road, Plateau State, who however, pleaded not to be named, confirmed the unfortunate incident to The Voice via telephone interview Tuesday evening.
According to the source, the elder statesman died Tuesday at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) permanent site in Plateau state, after a protracted undisclosed ailment.
It was rumoured that late Unongu has been on hospital bed at JUTH undergoing medication in the last four months.
Unongo, who until his death was the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) was born on September 26, 1935 in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue state.
Unongo was the pioneer Secretary General of the defunct Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) and Convener and former Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF).