PRESENT AT PA ENAHORO 87TH BIRTHDAY
PROF PAT UTOMI
WALE OKUNNIYI of ACTION GROUP OF NIGERIA
SENATOR SALAU
MRS SARAH JUBRIL
CHIEF EMAKKPOLR AJISE
DR FREDICk FASHEUN
SENATOR FEMI OKUNRONMU
TONY URANTA
ALH SHETIMMA YERIMAH
DR OBI ANIMAH
ALH ADEGBENGA KAKA
OTUNBA JUMOKE OGUNDEYEDE
CHIEF MRS DORERTHY
BABA OMOJOLA –PRONACO
COMM JUBRIL OGUNDIMU
REP OF KANO GOV
AND MANY OTHER IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES
Chief Anthony Enahoro, born 22 July 1923 is one of Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. He was born in Uromi in the present Edo State of Nigeria. Chief Enahoro has had a long and distinguished career in the press, politics, the civil service and the pro-democracy movement.
Educated at the Government School Uromi, Government School Owo and King's College, Lagos, Chief Enahoro became the editor of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s newspaper, the Southern Nigerian Defender, Ibadan, in 1944 at the age of 21, thus becoming Nigeria’s youngest editor ever. He later became the editor of Zik’s Comet, Kano, 1945-49, also associate editor West African Pilot, Lagos, editor-in-chief Morning Star, 1950-53.
Chief Enahoro became a foundation member of Chief Awolowo’s Action Group party; secretary and chairman, Ishan Division Council; member Western House of assembly; and later member, Federal House of Representatives in 1951. He later became Minister of Home Affairs in the old western region. He was the Opposition spokesman on Foreign policy and Legislative Affairs in the Federal House of Representatives, 1959-63; and attempted to moved the motion for the independence of Nigeria. Despite claims to the contrary and though his role was commendable in Nigeria's struggle for independence the fact remains that Chief Anthony Enahoro did not successfully move the motion for Nigeria's independence as has been suggested in various quarters. What he did was to attempt to move the motion for Nigeria's independence in the Nigerian Parliament in 1953. By that motion he argued that Nigeria should be granted independence in 1956 but this was met by stiff opposition in Parliament and it failed. The motion for Nigeria's independence was not successfully moved in the Nigerian Parliament until 1958 and this was done by Chief Remi Fani-Kayode who moved that Nigeria should be granted independence on April 2, 1960. This was accepted by Parliament and the British authorities acquiesed to it. However in 1959 yet another motion was moved by Sir Tafawa Balewa and seconded by Chief Raymond Njoku to shift the month of Nigeria's independence from April 2nd 1960 to October 1st 1960 [1] [2] [3]. Chief Enahoro was a delegate to most of the constitutional conferences leading to the independence of Nigeria in 1960.
During the 1962 crisis in the old Western region, he was detained along with other Action Group members. Accused of treason during the Awolowo alleged coup trial, Chief Enahoro escaped to the United Kingdom in 1963. He was extradited from the UK and imprisoned for treason. In 1966, he was released by the Military Government.
During the Nigerian crisis that followed the 1966 coups, Chief Enahoro was the leader of the then Mid-West delegation to the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference in Lagos. He later became Federal commissioner (Minister) for Information and Labour under the General Yakubu Gowon Military Government, 1967-74; Federal Commissioner for Special Duties, 1975. He later became member of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, 1978-83. He was the president, World Festival of Negro Arts and Culture, 1972-75.
Chief Enahoro was the chairman of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO; a pro-democracy group that fought dictator Sani Abacha till Abacha’s death.
Chief Enahoro was conferred with the national honour of Commander, Order of the Federal Republic, CFR, in 1982, and is the chairman of the Movement for National Reformation, MNR; as well as the Pro-National Conference Organisation, PRONACO. He was awarded honorary DSC by the University of Benin in 1972. Among his publications include the treatise Fugitive Offender. Chief Enahoro plays golf and follows cricket ardently.
Chief Enahoro is married to Helen, and has 5 children. Kenneth, Eugene, Annabella, Victor and Gabriel.
