Tinubu, Orji Kalu, Obi mourn former Minister, Ogbonnaya Onu

 

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his deepest condolences to the Onu family over the passing of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, who died on Thursday at 72.

 

This is contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Thursday in Abuja.

 

“The President mourns the first civilian governor of Abia State; former minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, a principal draughtsman in the founding of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and a valiant partner in the victory of the party in the 2015 elections.

 

“Most importantly, the President celebrates the life of an accomplished scholar, first-class engineer; a man of proven integrity; defiant to indiscipline, but ever yielding to the highest standards of rectitude.”

 

Ngelale said that Tinubu acknowledged that Onu epitomised the spirit of Nigeria, adding that the deceased believed in and defended the country’s unity, advocated peace, and promoted fellowship.

 

He said that the President also condoles with the friends and associates of Onu, Ebonyi and Abia State Governments, and all Nigerians grieving this gaping loss.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onu, who reportedly died at a hospital in Abuja, was a lecturer, politician and a presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress party in 2022

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, expressed deep sadness at the news of the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, former Minister of Science and Technology. He described Onu’s death as a significant loss to the nation.

Dr. Onu, who also served as the first civilian governor of Abia State, passed away Thursday morning after battling an undisclosed illness.

In a condolence message issued to the press, Obi hailed Late Onu as a patriotic and inclusive Nigerian leader who served the nation diligently in various capacities. He highlighted Onu’s notable contributions to Nigeria’s educational advancement, both as a lecturer and an author.

“Dr. Onu epitomized leadership characterized by a commitment to peace, progress, and justice,” Obi’s message read. “He courageously championed equity and good governance, leaving a lasting impact on our nation.”

Obi further emphasized Onu’s efforts to promote local production for national development during his tenure as Minister. He extended his prayers to Onu’s grieving family and the entire nation mourning his loss.

“The passing of Dr. Onu is an immense loss to our nation. May God comfort his family and all of us as we mourn his departure, granting us the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss. May he rest in eternal peace,” Obi concluded.

Also, A former Abia Governor, Sen. Orji Kalu, has expressed sadness over the passing of the first civilian governor of the state, Dr Ogbannaya Onu.

Kalu, in a condolence message issued by his media office in Abakaliki, described Onu, a frontline politician, author, engineer and former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, as a nationalist with passion for unity and progress of Nigeria.

The Senate Committee Chairman on Privatisation acknowledged Onu’s invaluable contributions to nation building, even as he urged his family to be consoled, as their late patriarch lived a purposeful life.

“I urge the deceased’s children and loved ones to sustain his worthy legacies, as his death is a huge loss to Ndigbo and Nigeria in general.

“The late statesman was a consummate politician and selfless philanthropist who served meritoriously in various capacities in the public sector.

“His wise counsel on national issues will be greatly missed, as he will be remembered for his outstanding leadership qualities,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onu died in an Abuja hospital on Thursday during a brief illness.

NAN also reports that the 72-year-old former governor contested for the presidential flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general election but lost to President Bola Tinubu.

Onu’s death, national tragedy – Ebonyi APC, others

Some political leaders in Ebonyi have described the sudden demise of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, a former Abia state governor, and former minister of Science and Innovation under President Muhmmadu Buhari as a “national tragedy”.

 

Onu died at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja on April 11.

 

The leaders who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abakaliki at separate interviews described the minister as a “detribalised Nigerian and a man who always stood for the truth”.

 

Chief Eze Nwachukwu, member representing Ohaukwu/Ebonyi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives said that Nigeria had been robbed of a political giant and truth-bearer.

 

Nwachukwu, who served as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under Onu as the leader of the party, also said that Ebonyi had lost a great son and path-finder who worked tirelessly to birth the ruling APC.

 

Speaking on the legacies of the politician, Nwachukwu noted that Onu was a foremost nationalist and a detribalised Nigerian who sacrificed his personal pleasure and interest for the good of all Nigerians.

 

He said that the birth of the now ruling APC in 2014 was the brain-child of the former Abia state governor which he sold to other opposition politicians.

 

“Well, I’m very saddened about the news of his demise; it came quite unexpected and we never expected him to leave us at this critical time, his contributions, his experience as a scientist, a politician and as a leader of repute were needed.

 

“His impact as a nationalist, a detribalised Nigerian and as a man who stood for truth, lived for truth and died for justice will be felt from generation to generation.

 

“He played fundamental role in the formation of our great party, APC which, for the first time in the political history of the country wrestled power from a ruling party at the centre.

 

“He sacrificed his position as the national chairman of the All Nigerians People’s Party (ANPP) to form the APC just to give Nigeria leadership and direction at a time it mattered most,” Nwachukwu said.

 

Also speaking, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, state chairman of APC said that the entire Ebonyi and APC family were saddened over the news of death of the minister.

 

He said: “The news is a sad one, we all know that he was sick sometime and has recovered, we didn’t know that he was going to die so unexpectedly.

 

“There is nothing we can say, he has contributed his quota in the building of nation.

 

“He has been an elected governor in the old Abia state, served as a minister , served the country and more particularly Ebonyi, he contributed heavily in the creation of Ebonyi and has been playing advisory role in Ebonyi and APC.

 

“As a party, we symthpatize with President Bola Tinubu, the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, our governor, Mr Francis Nwifuru.”

 

Meanwhile, Chief Hyecinth Oteh, a former Chief of Staff (CoS) to the former Gov. Martin Elechi and a close associate of the former minister lamented the unexpected exit of Onu.

 

Oteh described the late leader of the APC as a “fascinating politician” who enjoined him to always stick with the truth no matter the consequences and he was a man who stood for truth and justice throughout his career as a politician.

 

He said that Onu worked and dedicated his entire public live for the service of the nation stressing that one of the greatest sacrifices he made for the country was in relinguishing his position as a national chairman of his party to form APC.

 

“Onu was the man who convinced Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former President Muhmmadu Buhari to make sacrifices of losing their benefits as leaders of their individual parties in order to merge to form a bigger party that could dislodge the PDP as a governing party .

 

“He achieved it because it was the first time an opposition party defeated a ruling party at the centre in Nigeria.

 

“Dr Ogbonnaya Onu brought peace to this nation and the last thing he said to the country was _where is Justice?’ and so, while Onu joins his creator, Nigeria will continue to grapple with that question,” Oteh said.

 

Onu, 72 years, hailed from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi , contested for the presidential ticket of APC during the 2023 general election but lost to President Bola Tinubu.

 

Onu was a Nigerian politician, teacher, author, engineer and a Prince of Uburu until his death.