Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Saturday eugolised the immediate past senator from Cross River Central Senatorial District, Prof Sandy Onor, whom he described as a reliable ally and worthy friend, but lamented that the former chairman of Etung Local Government has had to suffer in various way because of their friendship.
Wike and Onor got very close since 1999 when the duo were local government chairmen. While Wike was chairman of Obio/Akpor in Rivers State, Onor was Etung chairman. At the 60th birthday of the senator, Wike recalled how he visited Onor in Calabar by 3am to seek his support for him to become deputy president of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, at a time that Onor was about leaving the same office.
He said after talking with Onor, it was the wife that convinced the husband to support him, considering the stress he went through, to visit them at that time of the night. From then, Wike said, their friendship had blossomed, with Onor showing steady friendship and sincerity.
But he said the orator of the 9th senate has been humiliated by those who were not comfortable with their friendship, pointing to a recent incident in which Onor was dropped as nominee for appointment as chairman of the south south development commission, SSDC, because his governor, Senator Bassey Otu, against whom Onor contested the 2019 gubernatorial election, was not comfortable with the nomination.
But Wike vowed to continue to fertilise his friendship with Onor because he man was a worthy and sincere friend who kept faith with the friendship even in difficult times.
The Minister told Onor: “I will continue to be with you and work with you, because I know even if I am not alive today, you will not abandon my family.”
Wike also spoke on his support for the president, Bola Tinubu, saying he owed no one an apology for supporting Tinubu and promised to support any candidate that supports the president, irrespective of party affiliation.
“We have the FCT Area Council election coming up on February 21 and I have a duty to support any candidate that supports President Tinubu to win.
“It is also my duty to ensure that any candidate that is not supporting Tinubu does not win in the election, and I owe no apology on my stand,” Wike said.
Reading the citation of the celebrant, Prof. Anthony Eyang said, Onor, born on February 14, 1966 in Ikom, Cross River State, was raised in an environment deeply rooted in community values, discipline and faith.
Eyang said that the journey of Onor, a Professor of History began from the lecture halls of the University of Calabar to the floor of the Nigerian Senate, and onward to Cross River State politics.
“This reflects a life devoted to learning, leadership, and the advancement of society,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman planning committee, Senator Philip Aduda, said that the event was a thanksgiving of God’s faithfulness on Onor’s life both as an academic and a politician.
On his part, Mr Samuel Otom, a former governor of Benue, described Onor as a great Nigerian, and a man who had prepared himself and fit for leadership.
Otom, who stood in for the Chairman of the Occasion, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, former governor of Abia State and Ambassador designate, equally described Onor as a “good man.”
A former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kalu Agabi (SAN) described the celebrant as a courageous and intelligent man, saying; “I love Senator Sandy Onor because he is not one of those who stigmatize the constitution as a product of the military. He is a courageous and intelligent man.”
Prof. Dave Imbua, while presenting a Festchrift, a book written by scholars in honour of the celebrant, said Onor has remained a notable historian among academics.
Ikpeazu unveiled the book on behalf of Wike and his friends, with N50 million.
In his remarks, the celebrant said he had realised in his 60th year of life that it was good to be a man of excellence and a man of character, adding that hard work pays. He however, said that “everything becomes insignificant if the finger of God is absent”.
