By Okechukwu Jombo
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the first civilian Governor of Abia State, is dead. He reportedly died on Thursday at the age of 72 during a brief illness.
Onu, who served as Minister of Science and Technology during President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, reportedly died in an Abuja hospital.
In a condolence message, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, said the demise of Dr. Onu is not only a loss to the Ndigbo but “our entire country.”
He commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, friends, political associates and the whole people of Abia State over the loss, saying that Onu was a consummate patriot who served his people and the entire nation.
“The demise of Dr. Onu is not only a loss to Ndigbo but our entire country. Throughout his lifetime, he was committed to nation-building. He was a consummate patriot who lived a life of service not only to his people but to the entire nation. He left indelible footprints in the political space of our country. He was a progressive politician par excellence,” he said.
Also, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, expressed grief over the passing of former Abia State Governor, Dr. Ogbannaya Onu.
Onyejeocha, in a statement, said she was shocked by the news and called Dr. Onu’s death a huge loss to the entire South East, Ebonyi State and Nigeria as a whole.
She praised Dr. Onu, who also served as a former Minister of Science and Technology from 2015 until 2022, as a role model, peacemaker, and unifying figure who prioritised the nation’s interests.
“His contributions to Nigeria’s development, she said, would be well-remembered.
“He was a highly respected politician, author, and engineer. He left behind a lasting legacy. The nation owes him a great debt of gratitude for his contributions in both the public and private sectors throughout his life”, the minister stated.
