When I heard of the late Wantaregh's death earlier in 2022, I could barely muster the courage to pay a tribute to this great son of Tiv nation and Nigeria owing to some obvious distinctive parameters . Firstly I belong to the much younger generation, so I thought I entirely lacked the basic latitude and depth to make any substantial and credible commentary on this Iconic son of Tiv nation who is a detribalised Nigerian and quintessential statesman. But impulsively my moral instinct began to gradually aggravate naturally, knowing that I owe a bit more of a moral compass to dare some eulogy in honor of this remarkable figure. Afterall I could , no matter how feeble, attempt some conscious visible instances of rare encounters with this sage which I consider worth mentioning , especially now that he has gone the way of all mortals, howbeit at an impressively great age with very impactful prints on the sands of time.
In the early and late 1990s, Wantaregh Paul Unongo was very much relevant in the politics and leadership direction of this nation, and at this time I had started growing up into a knowledgeable adult and already a student in the college . So I owe atleast the moral impetus to pay some tribute to our very revered Wantaregh.
Paul Unongo's public personality became pronounced in 1983 as far as my infant fascinations could hold . This was when he squared it up against then incumbent governor Aper Aku for the Benue governorship . I was a little innocent boy in basic school then, and in my innocence I could listen and perfectly recite the then political songs on his campaign vehicles with lines like ' _antakeda anmbayev mba hen ato , bende tso u nenge Iorpuu Unongo awase u yo '_ composed by Faga Ajinge , a folksinger who was famous for Unongo's campaign songs. These songs daily blazed on the ahojas mounted on the campaign vehicles of the NPP, the party which Unongo flew for the Benue governorship as its flagbearer. Fondly too, I could also recite the famous ' _Aku baba wamooo, taver a taver Shima heregh , orapipi nguer gomna, orapipi una ya gomna yoo, saa jackie anyor Sha ihyura nuragh ...One Nation! ,_
which on the other hand was Aku's famous campaign song of the NPN. I recollect when my father's eldest Sister in the Akosu family line , now Mrs Veronica Sohemba Chianson, the first child of the Akosu's dynasty would visit our family house in Gboko and I would literally become her folksinger virtually mimicking these separate songs to her admiration. For her, I usually sang the Unongo's campaign song that thrilled her the most, for she was an ardent supporter of the Paul Unongo's governorship in 1983 . My audience especially my aunt would consequently reward me with the 1 Naira currency note which I spent handsomely with my peers buying biscuits, sweets etc.
Again it became compelling for me to attempt a simple memoir on the legendary Wantaregh because of other significant fascinating encounters with him . This time it was at the return of democracy in the aborted second republic of 1992/93 when he became a prominent figure during the SDP/ NRC era. This time , I lived and was mentored by my cousin , the late Basil Chianson, a famous social crusader and politician who was a strong protege of Wantaregh. I lived with him at his home at 7th Avenue Iyorkyaa Ako Street Makurdi which also became a beehive of political interactions with a retinue of politicians as guests including Prof David Iornem, Iyorchia Ayu, and the legendary Wantaregh who I beheld visiting on one rare occasion . Sometimes , Basil Chianson would take me in company to the Unongo's residence located at School Lane in Makurdi where I would behold the elegance of this great son of Tiv land , even though I was a bit naive to relate with the sage at the time , his simplicity and communication prowess with his several supporters and admirers inspired me quite good and as a young man of my age it made me grow some confidence which I was eager to indulge in for the rest of my life . Basil my cousin was a regular face at the Wantaregh's Makurdi even when the leader was not around. He usually took over the management of affairs at Wantaregh's Makurdi home including some occasional incidences of security threats on the family residence . For Wantaregh Unongo was in the opposition APP at the time George Akume was governor under the ruling PDP in the state . Basil was literally a son and confidant of Unongo . I began to see more of Wantaregh's replica in my cousin who was bold , courageous, wit and.intellectually agile in his social conducts and relationship with people . The philosophy that I could vouch for that kept both going was because , the people mattered in their agenda , both the high and mighty, destitute and rich, maimed and strong, all mattered in the scheme of their social dealings and interactions. They saw the people as supreme and would sacrifice all for them as they sought for the people's mandate pre 2003.
In 1993 during the IBB's SDP and NRC era. I could feel the pulse of politics filled all over with MKO Abiola as the Presidential flagbearer and Revd Moses Adasu as the newly elected governor towards the phase leading to the civil rule which was unfortunately aborted by the IBB military regime .
I began to learn alot reading and writing of what made the pieces of the machinery and party propagation of the SDP, and in the latter times the APP which Basil Chianson did alot good work on . There were politicians like Samuel Ortom, Hyacinth Nyakuma, Bem Dzoho, Hon Terfa Atii, Hon Azer Ukende, Hon Simon Kwaghbula, Pastor Atim Daa, Shima Ayati , Charles Torbunde, etc, who usually came around.
By 2007, Unongo returned back to the PDP and we were at the ACC playground for the grand ceremony where he addressed the mammoth crowd of admirers on his signature apparelled overall glistening white robe . I would thereafter confirm his traditional role as symbol of Tiv leadership at his Unongo Kwaghgise village when he took on the full regalia in the _nyamtsam_ symbolizing its great potentials and interaction with the ancestral world and the living . This time it was when he would lead the ritual towards the installation of Gabriel Suswam as governor of Benue State in 2007. Indeed Suswam won the elections.
I am privileged to be Tiv and that Wantaregh really represented the symbol and pride of Tiv nation anywhere in the world makes me proud anytime . This too is much to inform a tribute on this sage . Learning some impactful lessons from his life and times is so indelible .
Adieu the legendary Wantaregh!
