Former governor of Abia state, immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, and former All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential aspirant, 71 years old Chief Ogbonnaya Onu is dead.
He died at a hospital in Abuja on Thursday morning.
He was said to have suffered a stroke on Wednesday from which he did not recover.
Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in last year’s election, expressed deep sadness at the news of the passing of the former University teacher.
In a condolence message, Obi hailed Late Onu as a patriotic and inclusive Nigerian leader who served the nation diligently in various capacities.
“Dr. Onu epitomised 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.
Ogbonnaya Onu was a lecturer at University of Port Harcourt before he went into politics during the scuttled transition to civilian rule of former president Ibrahim Babangida from 1991 to 1993.
He was elected governor in 1992 and served till the late Sani Abacha overthrew Ernest Shonekan’s administration in 1994.
Onu remained in politics and made a few attempts to run for President.
He resigned as minister of science and technology in the Buhari administration to contest the presidential primaries in 2022.
