Unongo, who hailed from Jato Aka in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, was also a Deputy Chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum.
According to the ACF, the passing on of the elder statesman is not only a big loss to the family but to the entire people of Benue, the North and indeed the country.
This was contained in a statement by the ACF’s Secretary General, Malam Murtala Aliyu, released to newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The umbrella body of the North described the late Unongo as “a patriotic Nigerian…a person who dedicated his entire life to (the) service (of) his people and humanity”
The statement partly read, “The Arewa Consultative Forum wishes to commiserate the demise of its member and the deputy chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Elder Statesman Wantaregh Paul Unongo OFR, with the family, the entire people of Benue State, the North and the country at large.
“Born on September 26th 1935, Chief Unongo died at the age of 87, on Tuesday 29th November 2022.
“Paul Iyorpuu Unongo belonged to the Kwaghngise-Anure-Abeancestry, in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
“With an interesting and fulfilling journey in life, he began a banking career with Barclays Bank, in 1958. The late Naylor, Wantaregh Paul Unongo rose to rank of an Acting sub-Accountant, usually reserved only for Whites, in 1959.
“He attended the Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology Zaria, now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 1959 to 1961, for a Pre-Degree Programme in Pre-Medicine, in Zoology, Physics and Chemistry. He was an assistant to an expatriate, a Chief Social Welfare Officer of Northern Nigeria, Douglas Green.
“The late Wantaregh got admission at University of Calgary in Canada, to study Experimental Psychology for two years, before being transferred to the University of Alberta Edmonton, Canada, where he completed both B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Experimental Psychology, and a speciality in Human Experimental Psychopathology.”
It added, “He was, subsequently, offered six (6) years scholarship by the North Regional Government, to study at the University of London, leading to a Ph.D in Psychology in that UK University.
“He was an author in his academic field.
“Chief Unongo was honoured by General Olusegun Obasanjo with the National Award of the Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR.
“A member of the 1994 Constitutional Conference, the late Unongo chaired the States Creation Committee.
“A founding member of many political associations in Nigeria, Dr. Wantaregh Paul Onongo, with the likes of Dr. Tunji Otegbeyi, the late Solomon Daushep Lar, Chief Femi Okunno, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi and another role model, the late Rt. Hon, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, they formed the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) and was its pioneer Secretary General.
“He was a critical key in the formation of a National Government, spearheaded by the then alliance of two political parties, the NPN and the NPP that took power from the Military, and headed by the late President Shehu Shagari in 1979.
“His political sagacity earned him the appointment of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development. The modest contributions of Wantaregh Paul Unongo, to the socio-economic development of his people, is unparalleled.
“Wantaregh Paul Unongo, a patriotic Nigerian and passionate Northerner, was a person who dedicated his entire life to serving his people and humanity.”
