Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has said the death of former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, is very devastating and unexpected to him.
Uzodimma expressed his feeling in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguike Nwachuku.
He said he was shocked when he received the news of ‘’a man he loved very well.”
Onu died on Thursday at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja during a brief illness.
“He was a man of intellectual and a political giant with extraordinary gentility.
“With Onu’s death, Southeast, Nigeria and the global community have lost a statesman who believed so much in unity, peace, progress and development of Nigeria.”
He consoled the family of the deceased, President Bola Tinubu, the Southeast zone and Ebonyi State government over the loss.
Also speaking, former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, expressed shock at Onu’s death, noting that the late politician with whom he served in the federal cabinet between 2015 and 2018 was a man of great integrity who played a pivotal role in the struggle to establish democracy in Nigeria.
In a statement by his media team, Fayemi said: “In the lead-up to the historic 1999 presidential elections, Onu took the courageous step of stepping down as the presidential candidate of the All People’s Party (APP) in favour of Chief Olu Falae, the presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). This selfless act exemplified his dedication to the greater good of the country and his willingness to prioritise national interests over personal ambition.
“Throughout his illustrious career in public service, Onu was a steadfast advocate for good governance, transparency, and accountability. He served meritoriously in various capacities, including as Governor of Abia State and as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, where he championed initiatives aimed at harnessing science and technology for national development,” Fayemi stated.
Similarly, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State, in a statement by his spokesman, Bologi Ibrahim, acknowledged Onu as one of the founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hence, his demise is a huge loss not to only Abia State, but the entire country.
He described the deceased as a selfless, patriotic and committed leader who through his effective service to the people of Abia and Nigerians in general, carved a niche for himself.
