ABUJA- The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says the demise of Sen. Jonathan Zwingina has deprived the nation of a grassroots mobilizer and courageous patriot, who stood against disunity and falling moral fabric of the nation.
The Director-General of NOA, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement by the Deputy Director of Press in the Agency, Mr Paul Odenyi, on Friday in Abuja, described Zwingina as a gifted and rigorous mobilizer
“Zwingina was the pioneer Director in the former Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), now NOA.
“He was one of the officers that laid the foundation for the Agency’s work in preaching the virtues of hardwork, integrity, sincerity, forthrightness and tolerance which has remained the core values of our nation.
“Having served as parliamentarian and chaired many committees among other roles, his eloquence, articulation and courage in speaking the truth marked him out as a distinguished man throughout his lifetime.
“Indeed, he was a father, a mentor, a hero and a pillar to many, both in the political and moral spheres,”Issa-Onilu said.
The NOA boss noted the devotion of Zwingina to family and community values as he spoke for unity and development of the country.
Issa-Onilu added that Zwingina used his oratory to propagate unity, love, peace and oneness in Nigeria at a time when many fanned the embers of disunity and disintegration.
While condoling with his family, Issa-Onilu urged them to take solace in the many accomplishments of the politician, especially his devotion to the cause of unity in the country.
He explained that Zwingina’s accomplishments have earned him both admiration and recognition from across social, ethnic, religious and political affiliations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Zwingina, was a Nigerian politician, who was elected Senator for the Adamawa South constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999.
He was reelected in April 2003 on the PDP platform.
Zwingina was appointed to committees on Works & Housing (chairman), Establishment, Internal Affairs, Information, Special Projects, Privatisation and Economic Affairs.
He was the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Save Democracy Group Africa.
He died on Oct. 2, at the age of 70. (NAN)
