The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed sadness over the demise of a former minister and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Anthony Anenih.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Ekweremadu described Mr Anenih as a pan Nigerian and patriot who served the nation to the best of his ability.

He said: “Chief Anineh contributed so much to deepening our democracy and setting the nation on the path of progress at the end of many decades of military rule.

“He was a humble leader, fine public administrator, political kingmaker, a colossus, master strategist, and a political oracle, who was very vast in political engineering.

“Iyasele was a courageous man, and a man of few words, who meant whatever he said and said only what he meant. He will be sorely missed”.

Ekweremadu prayed that God grants the deceased eternal repose.

He also prayed that his family, the government and people of Edo State, and indeed the nation have the strength to bear the loss.