Chief TONY ANENIH at 79

Chief Tony Anenih

Anthony Akhakon Anenih was born in Uzenema-Arue in Uromi on 4 August 1933. In 1951 he joined the Nigeria police force in Benin City.

He was State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1981 and 1983, helping Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia become elected as civilian Governor of Bendel State. However, the governorship was cut short by the military takeover of December 1983. He was National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party from 1992 and 1993, when he assisted in the election Chief M. K. O. Abiola as president.

He is married to Josephine Anenih, a lawyer, who was the chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers from 1994 to 2000.

Minister for Works, 1999-2003; PDP BOT (Board of Trustees) Chairman 2003-2007, Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), 2009 to date.

Chief Anenih's pastimes include jogging, reading, music and philanthropy. He loves Lucky Dube's music a great deal. He can also be very humorous when he decides to break his taciturnity. Tapping of rubber trees in many plantations was the 'oil and gas' in the region during the colonial era for many young and old people. A stint in this rubber industry fetched him a brand New Bicycle with which he started to transverse the semi-urban and urban centres of Ubiaja, Auchi and Benin City in search of greener pastures.

On the 7th of August 2014, he  clocked 79.

Chief Anthony A. Anenih is a Father, Grandfather and Great-grandfather, Uncle, Brother and also has many Political Sons and Daughters.

While his family, friends and well wishers celebrate, we say HAPPY BIRTHDAY from here.