By chief Simon Shango
Sequel to the release of the programme of activities for the burial of WANTAREGH PAUL IYORPUU UNONGO: A DOGGED FIGHTER WHO GOES HOME TO REST, Beginning from Tuesday November 26 – final internment on November 30th, 2024 in his home town, Unongo village near Jato Aka, Kwande local government of Benue state,
I met Wantaregh Paul Iyorpuu Unongo for the first time in the early 1960s at the annual convention of the Community of Tiv Students, CTS, in Gboko.
He was the president of CTS, and I was then in my early years in secondary school .
Looking back,with all sense of sincerity, I dare say the Tiv society or tribe is very young. At 78 years old , I testify that I met nearly all the educated Tiv men and women of that era in school.
The first set of Tiv University graduates comprising Mr J. Adom Gande the famous principal and geography master in most government secondary schools in the then northern region, who is alive till date,late Apollos Aper Aku the second Republic governor of Benue state and late Ezekiel Aker Akiga, Benue state head of Service in the second Republic,all graduated between 1964 and 1965 from the Forah Bay College in Freetown,Sierra Leone.
In comparison with the Idoma nation, whose first university graduate Dr. Edwin Ogbu, former Nigerian ambassador to the United States of America and then the United Nations, and later the Och’ idoma who graduated in 1951 from Oxford University in the
United Kingdom.
Wantaregh Paul Iyorpuu Unongo was one in the second batch of Tiv educated people who at that time was a student at the Nigerian College of Arts,Science and Technology Zaria
It is, therefore, pleasant to note that today,the Tiv nation has numerous professors and experts in diverse fields of endeavour.
I lost touch with Wantaregh during my secondary school days and reconnected with him while he worked as a social welfare officer at the Social Welfare Department of the Government of Northern Nigeria in Kaduna.
His brother-in-law,Professor Justin Tseayo, who incidentally is the first Tiv professor, was also working in the same office as Wantaregh.
Later, they both left to pursue higher education abroad; Wantaregh in Canada and Justin Tseayo in the United Kingdom.
I did not see Wantaregh thereafter until our paths crossed again in Lagos, where he was lecturing in Clinical Psychology at the University of Lagos.
I got to learn later that it was J.S Tarka who introduced his young and bright associate Wantaregh,to his cabinet colleague Chief Abdul Eke in the government of Gen.Yakubu Gowon, who was the federal commissioner for education, and doubled effectively as the registrar of the university of Lagos, to secure for him a teaching job at the University …
I had gone to Lagos on relieving duties at the New Nigerian office in Ijora.
I was informed that Wantaregh had left the University of Lagos to set up a consultancy services outfit, Psycoman Consultants in partnership with his friend Dr George Okon during this time he was a close ally of my uncle J.S Tarka.
When Benue Plateau State was created along with other states in Nigeria , Wantaregh moved with his partner, Dr. George Okon from Lagos to set up business in Jos and worked very closely with the then Governor of Benue Plateau State, Police Commissioner J D Gomwalk.
Wantaregh set up a company called JULADACO limited while his partner’s company was called Votenisky.
Wantaregh’s stay in Jos was a very memorable one as it was at that time that his famous booklet “Where Do We Go From Here” was written. This booklet gave rise to the creation of six more divisions as they were then called , from the very large Tiv Native Authority.
Seemingly, this appeared to have been the beginning of parting of ways between Wantaregh and J S Tarka as both leaders had different opinions on the creation of divisions or local governments in Tivland.
This apparent political and development stance appealed to a lot of Tiv people, especially the elites which gave rise to the birth of Unongo group as politically opposed to the Tarka group.Wantaregh continued to operate as a political leader to his group and also a business magnet.
Wantaregh image and businesses loomed large as he operated his company and political activities replica of government . He was involved in housing, transportation education, security, and health service delivery.
He engaged in philanthropic gestures, giving scholarship awards.
He was proprietor of a number of schools including the JULADACO High School in Kassa, Plateau State, that produced the likes of chief Rochas Okorocha former Governor of imo State, Mrs Becky Orpin a journalist, council Chairman and now a member of the Benue State House of Assembly just to mention a few. JULADACO was a hub for mentorship of young talents like Professor ambassador Steve Ugba former Ambassador to Russia and now Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilisations Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr Jonathan Ichaver, a chartered accountant Former General Manager Finance Benue Cement Company Plc, and Mr Silas Mark Ikpa, a board member of the Federal Character Commission.
The JULADACO company also operated hotels in Jos, Katsina Ala,Jato Aka, and Gboko. Wantaregh, whose security outfit “commanded” by James Nombor, was rumoured to be his private army comprising quite a number of battalions due to his efficiency in security delivery services.
Wantaregh, a philanthropist per excellence, a maker and keeper of friendship and a family man.
He brought up a large family of people,some of whom he did not remember again.
In like manner, he brought up his children very well. He brought up politicians, entrepreneurs, and beaurucrats by lobbying and securing positions for them both piblic and private sector. His early children; Jude, Lante ,David ,Pauline, and Alex who remained in the background, have sojoured in the United States of America after their education to date. Wantaregh joined politics when the military were about to hand over to a civilian administration in 1979.This time it became clear that he would not work in the same political party as J.S Tarka, so he joined the NPP headed by Alhaji Wazirii Ibrahim and Dr. Nnandi Azikiwe. Paul Unongo became the national secretary of the party (NPP) following disagreements, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim left NPP and formed his own Party Great Nigerian Peoples Party. (GNPP)
At the end of the elections, Paul Unongo became the Minister of Steel development following an alliance his party had with the ruling party National Party of Nigeria (NPN). During his tenure, he pioneered the establishment of Ajaokuta steel complex and set up steel rolling Mills in Katsina, Jos, and Ajaokuta.
Although Wantaregh did not succeed in getting into an elective office in his political career, his influence towered high in Benue, Nigeria, and beyond.
He will be remembered in Nigeria and in the hearts of his loved ones Abroad as a fierce fighter for justice,peace, and freedom for all mankind.
I cannot end this tribute without mentioning his childhood wife, Mrs Vicky Avarave Unongo who attended the prestigious Queen of Apostles College now Queen Amina College Kaduna and proceeded to the University of Ibadan teaching hospital to pursue a career in medical studies but withdrew upon marriage to paul to build a family, and who remained at the background as a strong pillar to Paul both politically and Spiritually until her demise to God’s eternal glory .
She was the immediate younger sister of Professor Justin Tseayo her soul remains the pillar to the Unongo dynasty.
Politics will miss Paul Unongo most above his loved ones; he brought colour, fun, and charisma to political campaigns. Indeed, Nigeria will miss Wantaregh.
May his fighting spirit rest in peace as he goes home a greater fighter in the kingdom of God
In conclusion, life is unkind to those who forge their paths to the pinnacle of their endeavors, but I,with every sense of modesty, give Wantaregh kudos for his lifetime.
Chief Simon Shango,MFR
