Sunday Okobi
Activist, social critic, and the Executive Secretary, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Tony Uranta, is dead. He died after a long battle with ill-health.
Sources closed to the deceased said Uranta died after a serious battle with an undisclosed ailment.
A statement issued by his family said: “We announce the passage of Tony Uranta (TIU) at 1:32 pm. this (yesterday) afternoon.
“Tony has gone home to rest after a long medical battle. He fought a good fight while he was here, but we believe God needs him now to continue from the other side, and to perhaps conquer on his strong belief in justice, equity, peace and unity for Nigeria. Burial will be announced by family later.”
Meanwhile, fellow activists, Prof. Pat Utomi, Olisa Agbakoba, Olawale Okunniyi, and others under the Pro National Conference Organisations and Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), on behalf of the Nigerian Civil Society Movement have mourned his demise.
The group eulogised “Uranta’s various contributions towards the advocacy for constitutional restructuring of Nigeria amid stiff resistance from those who benefit from jaundice and corruptive political structure of Nigeria.”
In a joint statement signed by the Director-General of the NIM, who is also spokesperson of PRONACO, Sir Olawale Okunniyi, the group recalled his contributions to national conferences, especially the 2014 National Confab, even as they promised to immortalise his legacy.
However, the shocking news of his death was also shared by his associate and labour activist, Denja Yacub, and veteran Nollywood actress, Regina Askia, on their social media handles yesterday.
“Our ranks have been depleted again! A good friend and great patriot of inestimable essence, Comrade Tony Uranta has gone home. soft-spoken, great mobiliser, a highly committed pro-democracy activist, a passionate advocate of good governance he was. This is very painful and a great loss. May his soul rest well in eternal peace! May God provide his family all they require to cope with his eternal absence,” Yacub said.
Also, Askia wrote on Facebook: “The Lion sleeps! Good night to a great man, a champion for equity and justice. Thank you for your excellent service to the Nigerian nation.”
Also, On-Air personality, Jimi Disu, who announced the death of Uranta on social media platforms yesterday, wrote: “Just I had thought I had had enough deaths, I heard Tony Uranta had passed away! I’m speechless.”
Uranta had suffered a partial stroke last year. He made the disclosure in a post on his social media handle obtained by CKN News.
In 2019, Uranta said he had been ill for over five months semi-comatose and paralysed in First Cardiologists Clinic, Ikoyi, Lagos, and expressed optimism that he would walk again.
Urana was a member of the Federal Government’s Technical Committee on Niger Delta; executive secretary, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the executive secretary of the Nigeria National Summit Group (NNSG).
He graduated from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, between 1972 and 1976.
Uranta is survived by his wife, Baarong Uranta, a sports analyst with Channels Television, and numerous members of his family.
