By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja –
Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has described the death of Second Republic Minister of Power and Steel ,Dr. Paul Iorpuu Unongo as a huge loss to the nation.
Reacting to the death of the elder statesman , Senator Mark said in a statement that Nigeria and Benue State in particular have lost a political giant and mentor who stood to be counted when it mattered .
He recalled the role of Pa Unongo in the political evolution of Nigeria as the pioneer National Secretary of Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) led by the first Nigerian President Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe otherwise called the Zikist movement .
According to Senator Mark : “As a minister of the Federal Republic, Pa Unongo demonstrated enormous capacity in leadership and contributed to the socio- political and economic development of Nigeria .
“ Pa Unongo was a leader without boundaries because he took the entire country as his constituency.
“We shall miss his political sagacity, oratory prowess , frank and Patriotic disposition to national issues. He called a spade its rightful name no matter whose ox was gored”.
Senator Mark added that Pa Unongo was an emancipator of sort because he stood for the oppressed and the down trodden.
Whether his goal in that respect was achieved or not, the former Senate helmsman noted that Pa Unongo craved for a society of equal opportunities for all irrespective of tribe or religion.
He enjoined the government and people of Benue State to take solace in the fact that Pa Unongo left good legacies and positive footprints in the sand of time .
Senator Mark prayed that God grants the deceased eternal rest .
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