By BUSOLA SAMUEL
A father of Nigerian journalism and and former Minister of Information and Culture of the Federal Republic, Prince Tony Momoh, is dead.
The Auchi, Edo State-born former General Manager Publications Division of defunct Daily Times, who passed on at the age of 81, was said to have died at a private hospital in Abuja on Monday February 1 looking at his 82nd birthday coming.
Momoh, the Yerima of Auchi Kingdom, was Minister of Information and Culture (1986–1990) during the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
In an interview at his Jabi home in Abuja, the former Chairman of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) once told our Prince Bashir Adefaka how journalists should be held responsible for successes and failures of any society. He will be missed seriously by The DEFENDER family, the “son” journalist of the late journalism icon has said.
Prince Tony Momoh was born on 27 April, 1939 in Auchi, Edo State. He was the 165th child of King Momoh I, a late Otaru of Auchi. He attended Government School Auchi (1949–1954) and Anglican School Okpe (1954). Momoh was Pupil Teacher at the Anglican School, Auchi (January–December 1955) and Headmaster at the Anglican School, Ubuneke, Ivbiaro, Owan Local Government (January 1958 – December 1959).
He went to the Provincial Teachers Training College, Abudu, Edo State and Government Teachers College, Abraka in Western Region (1960–1961).
Later, while working at the Daily Times or on sabbatical, he attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (September 1964 – October 1966) where he earned a degree in Mass communication, and then the University of Lagos where he studied Law. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos (October 1974 – May 1975), and was called to the bar in June 1975.
Prince Momoh started his journalism career as a sub-editor at the Daily Times in October 1962, rising steadily through the ranks to become Editor and deputy general manager (June 1976 – May 1980). In June 1979, during the lead-up to the transition from military to civilian rule at the start of the Second Nigerian Republic, Momoh said of the five presidential candidates: “They are all the same … It’s going to turn into a personality contest”.
