Upon return to democracy in 1999, Anenih joined forces with other politicians to form the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which won the presidential election
Chinelo Obogo
The Iyasele of Esanland (traditional prime minister of Esanland comprising the five councils that make up Edo Central senatorial district) and Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Anenih passed on yesterday at the age of 85, after an eventful political career spanning several decades.
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He was one of the most well known and prominent politicians of his era. He was nicknamed ‘Mr Fix It’ for his ability to influence and maneuver elections in favour of his political party.
Born in Uzenema-Arue in Uromi, Edo State, he joined the Nigeria Police in 1951 in Benin City.
He attended the police college in Ikeja, and was selected for further training in the Bramshill Police College, Basingstoke, England in 1966 and the International Police Academy, Washington DC in 1970. He served as a police orderly to the first Governor General of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He worked as an instructor in various police colleges and in 1975 was assigned to the Administrative Staff College (ASCON), Lagos. He retired from the police as a Commissioner of police.
He later joined politics and emerged the state chairman of Nigeria’s then ruling party, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1981 and 1983. He is believed to have played a major role in the controversial 1983 general elections including in his home state of the Bendel (Edo/Delta) where he helped Samuel Ogbemudia to victory.
In 1993, he emerged the national chairman of the SDP, which Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) as its presidential candidate for the 1993 election. Anenih worked for Abiola’s election and aided his victory in the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Abiola was later imprisoned by the late dictator, General Sani Abacha, with many of his supporters accusing Anenih of betraying the June 12 cause, an allegation that Anenih denied.
Upon return to democracy in 1999, Anenih joined forces with other politicians to form the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which won the presidential election and also won election in many states in the country. He was later appointed Minister of Works by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He survived major heart surgery
In 2016, Anenih survived an eight-hour heart surgery which was carried out in the United Kingdom.
Referring to it in his autobiography titled: My Life and Nigerian Politics, Anenih said: “There is nothing God cannot do if you believe in him sincerely. I had a problem with my heart. So I was subjected to eight hours of surgery and seven doctors were carefully selected to do that because of their experience. Before the operation, the seven doctors told the people that accompanied me (to the hospital) that I wouldn’t make it. I heard them.”
In July 2018, he cancelled his birthday celebration reportedly over what he described as the sad state of Nigeria. “There is no doubt that attaining a milestone of 85 years on earth is a privilege enjoyed by a few; and, it is, therefore, an occasion worth celebrating with loved ones and friends.
“On reflections, however, whilst I remain grateful to God for His unfailing love and sustenance that have kept me all through the years, I am, sadly, unable to fulfill this earnest desire to celebrate the milestone because of the unfortunate recent losses that befell my family in quick succession, the condition of my health and the sad state of the nation that has witnessed so much losses, bloodshed and apprehension.
“Nonetheless, I sincerely appreciate the effort being made by government and some influential Nigerians to restore peace. I believe that with prayers and faith in God, there is hope for restoration of peace and good neighbourliness in Nigeria soon and in the years ahead.”
Anenih lost his wife, Patricia on Sunday, April 16, 2017 and on May 14 of the same year, he lost his son Eugene.