Author Of The Fugitive Offender: The Story Of A Political Prisoner Has Passed On

Chief Anthony Enahoro, (22nd July 1923-15th December 2010)

The author of the Fugitive offender: The story of a political prisoner and one of the greatest leaders of democracy in modern Africa, Chief Anthony Enahoro passed away yesterday. He was 87.

Chief Enahoro’s record as the youngest Editor of a mainstream Nigerian newspaper Southern Nigerian Defender at the young age of 21 in 1944 remains unbroken even in the computer age of the 21st century. The Southern Defender was published by the great African leader and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria. He was also the Editor of Dr. Azikiwe’s Comet in Kano from 1945-49, Associate Editor, West African Pilot, Lagos and Editor-in-Chief Morning Star, 1950-53.

Chief Enahoro joined the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other nationalists to form the Action Group party and was the Chairman and Secretary in Ishan Division Council; member Western House of Assembly and later member of the Federal House of Representatives in 1951. He was appointed the 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. In 1953 he attempted the first motion for the independence of Nigeria in the Nigerian Parliament.

Chief Enahoro was accused of treason as an accomplice of Chief Awolowo, but he escaped to the United Kingdom in 1963. He was extradited from the UK and joined Chief Awolowo in prison, but he was released by the Military Government in 1966.

His memoirs Fugitive offender: The story of a political prisoner chronicled this period of his colourful life.

His last herculean battle was against the tyrannical dictatorship of the despotic General Sani Abacha as the Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the frontline pro-democracy group that protested against the military junta of the Abacha from 1994-1998.

Chief Anthony Enahoro will be remembered as one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Nigeria and one of the heroes of Nigerian democracy.

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima