Paul Unongo, who served as the Second Republic’s Minister of Power and Steel in Nigeria, has passed away at the age of 87.
He passed away in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, on Tuesday morning. He was originally from Jato Aka in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
He was an astute politician who ran for governor of Benue State in 1983 but was defeated by the late Aper Aku.
The Northern Elders’ Forum’s chairman Maitama Sule stepped down in 2017, and Unongo took his place.
His death would be publicised in due course, according to a close family source who spoke with reporters on the phone in Makurdi on Tuesday.
“Yes Wantaregh Paul Unongo died today Tuesday but I cannot say more than that because I am not authorised to do so. But our family will issue a formal statement on the development,” he said.
Unongo presided over the Governing Council of the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council up until his death.
Born on September 26, 1935, in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, Unongo was of the Kwaghngise-Anure-Abera ancestry.
