His life was denominated by two diametrically opposed forces at almost every point of his existence. Imagine being the 165th child in a family! Prince Tony Momoh studied at Government School, Auchi and Anglican School, Okpe – the first a public school, the second a private (missionary) institution. And that was how he got himself hugely decoloured by the two polar dimensions of life, both well structured and variegated. The dual functionality of his personality made it possible for him to sprout as a teacher and headmaster.
His university education was also measured by two academically powerful institutions, though with the scholastic imprimatur of Prof Eni Njoku as the vice chancellor, nonetheless representing two distinct visions – University of Nigeria Nsukka, and University of Lagos. At UNN, Momoh earned a degree in Mass Communication between 1964 and 1966. And at UNILAG, he studied between 1974 and 1975. Here, he once again, dramatically and sensationally manifested his avowed knack for dual personifications. Even in Daily Times, Momoh, a dedicated, hard working, determined and diligent person proved that one could really climb to the top from the ground floor. This is so because Momoh that came to Daily Times as an ‘on sabbatical’ worked his way through to the top when he emerged the sub editor, editor and deputy general manager accordingly between 1962 and 1980.
Probably, the appointment of Momoh as the minister of information and culture by General Ibrahim Babangida in September 1986, more than anything else brought the true characterization of the deceased as a man with political mystics. It is instructive to point that Momoh served for four hectic and herculean years as the information minister. Those were the years of the death of the pioneer editor –in – chief of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa, who was dispatched via a parcel bomb on September 19, 1986, MANSER protest, SFEM crisis, and the endless postponement of the Babangida transition programme. In all, it was Momoh that had the ill luck and headache of defending the government’s not well tailored policies. In some, Momoh came out immaculate. In others, he was dragged through the mud. To the consternation of many, he still kept his integrity and professionalism intact!
Most Nigerians would again remember him for two of his most notable quotes One, during the Giwa’s death saga, Momoh said: ‘Police are making progress though arrests have been made’. In 2015, Momoh who supported the candidature of retired General Mohammadu Buhari then the candidate of APC hollered thus: ‘stone us if we fail after two years’.
He was chairman of the African Conference of Information Ministers from 1988 to 1990.
Momoh was chairman of the board of directors of Nigerian Airways from 1991 to 1993. He was appointed a Member of the Edo State Economic Advisory Committee in 1991, and a member of the Nigerian Press Council in December 1992. In 1996 Momoh was one of the directors of the Newswatch magazine, said to have a circulation of 150,000 copies in Africa, Europe and North America. He was Director of the Alex Ekwueme Presidential Campaign Organization in 1999. He chaired the screening and conduct of gubernatorial and State House of Assembly primaries in Kano chapter of the P.D.P. for the 1999 General Elections together with Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila and Senator Bala Tafidan Yauri. He was chairman, Media and Publicity of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) Campaign Organization in the 2003 and 2007 elections. He was also chairman of the Political Committee of the Muhammadu Buhari Organization.
In January 2011, Momoh was appointed Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the lead-up to the April 2011 national elections, with Buba Galadima appointed the National Secretary. Soon after being appointed, Momoh said the CPC would bar any of its aspirants to become candidates if they were to engage in corrupt practices. Following disappointing results in the April 2011 elections, Momoh asserted that massive rigging had taken place. However, he described the CPC as a mass movement that was bound to grow and achieve the high goals of its founders.
Since his death, after a brief illness, a deluge of condolence messages has been pouring –in. President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC leadership, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, described Momoh’s demise as a huge loss to the polity.
Expressing grief, the president described him as his longtime ally, friend, and political loyalist. The president’s message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina. President Buhari said Momoh stood with him through thick and thin, adding: “His brand of loyalty is very rare in the politics of today. I will greatly miss him.” The president recalled that as chairman, Media and Publicity of the ANPP Campaign Organization in the 2003 and 2007 elections as well as Chairman of the CPC, the late prince contributed in no small measure to the growth and strengthening of the organizations, leading to the eventual formation of the APC. President Buhari commiserated with the media industry on the loss of a veteran who put in a lot to raise the bar of the profession as editor, manager, administrator, President and Trustee of the Guild of Editors, urging them to sustain his legacies.
While also condoling with the Auchi Kingdom, the government and people of Edo State on this great loss, the President prayed that God will grant the departed eternal rest and comfort.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described Momoh’s death as a colossal loss to Nigeria and the ruling party. The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, urged family, friends and colleagues of the deceased as well as the APC leadership to immortalize him. Sanwo-Olu said: “The death of Prince Tony Momoh is a great loss to Nigeria. The late Momoh made lots of positive impact in Nigeria during his life time as a journalist, media manager, lawyer, politician and elder statesman. “I sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari, the entire leadership and members of our party. I also commiserate with government and people of Edo State on the loss of their illustrious son.”
Paying tribute to Momoh, the APC said his death was a monumental loss to the progressive fold.
The party in a statement by the Secretary Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, said the ruling party was deeply saddened by the death of the frontline journalist. He said: “A distinguished journalist, lawyer, the Yerima of Auchi, politician, publicist, author, the former Minister of Information and Culture truly lived a storied life which will be a source of inspiration to present and future generations.
“The late Prince Tony Momoh was a strong advocate for internal party democracy which allowed for open, consultative and fair party processes. His mindset and approach to politics was that of service, not business. This was evident in all assignments he was regularly called upon to serve on behalf of the party.” Akpan Udoedehen said that the late associate of President Muhammad Buhari will be remembered for his tough stance against corruption.
He added: “As CPC National Chairman, he made clear the defunct Party’s resolve to bar any of its aspirants to become candidates if they engaged in corrupt practices during the primaries.” Veteran journalist and former Ogun State governor Osoba commiserated with the family and associates of the former, minister.
