By Uche Onyeali
President Bola Tinubu has described late former Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, as a committed patriot and statesman.
Tinubu, who made the statement at the burial of the former governor of old Abia State in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi, said in Onu, death robbed Nigeria of a committed and patriotic elder statesman.
The president described the late Onu as a perfect gentleman who staunchly believed in the match toward achieving Nigeria’s true destiny as a great nation.
“Onu was a true progressive and a quintessential politician who believed in the ideals of the progressive movement as a way to develop Nigeria.
“He worked tirelessly for the ideal which gave rise to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015.
“He provided the needed leadership toward the formation of the APC from All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Action Congress of the Nigeria, ACN, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC,” he said.
The president noted that the APC had continued to grow in leaps and bounds and has produced two presidents, including himself, since then.
“We will miss him but will continue to uphold the ideals he stood for in life,” he said.
In his speech at the burial ceremony, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State thanked Tinubu and all the dignitaries that attended the funeral.
“I also thank you on behalf of south east governors for honouring our son who left indelible footprints on Ebonyi and Nigeria.
“We bid farewell to a man who gave his all to the service of mankind and had an inspirational trajectory of political success from governor, party chairman and minister.
“Onu as a former governor of Abia left infrastructural and human empowerment legacies as Ebonyi was carved from some parts of Abia,” he said.
Nwifuru donated N100 million for the completion of the Christ the King’s Catholic Church, Uburu which was conceived and constructed by the late Onu.
In his sermon in the funeral service, Catholic Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Lucius Ugorji urged people to always live with the realisation that they would face death.
Some of the dignitaries at the burial included Governors Alex Otti of Abia and Peter Mbah of Enugu while Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra were represented by their deputies.
Also present were the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, and national chairman of APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje among other dignitaries.
Onu passed away at the age of 72.
