Politician, author and engineer, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Governor and former Federal Minister, dies today in Abuja, aged 72.
A family source confirmed the passage of the former Governor of Old Abia today at a hospital in Abuja, the Federal Capital.
The source disclosed that relations rushed Dr. Onu to hospital last month when he suffered a cardiac arrest. He remained in hospital until his passage, the source said.
Apart from a 2-year stint as Governor of Old Abia (comprising present Abia and part of Ebonyi States), Onu served as Minister of Science and Technology under President Muhammadu Buhari. He was the longest serving minister in that Ministry.
Onu’s politics
In 2022, Onu resigned his appointment as Minister after seven years on the seat, to contest in the presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He was elbowed out at the last minute. This was the second time that he was making a bold move for the presidency.
In his first try in 1998, Dr Onu won the primaries of the All Nigeria Progressives Party (ANPP) to emerge its presidential candidate. However, he voluntarily stepped down for Chief Olu Falae of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), following the agremment between the two parties to team up and fight an all-conquering Peoples Democratic Party that fielded Olusegun Obasanjo. This was to pave way for an all-Yoruba candidate as a compensation for the denial of the presidency to Bashorun Moshood Abiola who won the 1993 election.
Education
The Uburu-born native from Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State showed brilliance all through his education. He recorded a Grade 1 with distinction in the WASCE he took as a student of Izzi High School, made the best Higher School result at the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu, and earned a first class in chemical engineering at the University of Lagos.
He graduated with a PhD in chemical engineering from the Ivy League University of California at Berkeley.
Before his foray into politics, Dr Onu taught chemical engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, a federal university located in Rivers State.
Political Positions
He served as governor of Abia State (1991-1993) during the reign of military president, Ibrahim Babangida and before Ebonyi State was excised from it.
Elected in 1992, he was among the set of governors that late Gen Sanni Abacha booted out 1993 when he toppled the interim government coupled by Babangida before a hurried exit.
Ohaneze mourns
Ohanaeze Ndigbo described Onu’s death as a rude shock. A spokesperson described him as a “Titan, path finder, visionary, erudite scholar, (and) astute politician.
Ohanaeze President, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu “was heart-broken on hearing the sad news,” Dr. Chiedozie Ogbonnia wrote in the statement.
Iwuanyanwu lamented the many deaths of high profile Igbos who were members of his presidential advisory council. Among them were Prof George Obiozor, Prof Joe Irukwu, Elder Dr. U. K. Kalu, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwei, Prof Chike Edozien, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
Onu, he said, “displayed an awesome and remarkable magnanimity when in 1999, he surrendered his presidential ticket in the All Peoples Party (APP) to the Presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy AD, Chief Olu Falae.
Iwuanyanwu described Onu as a most principled Nigerian. He resisted the lure of the ruling PDP and chose to remain in opposition throughout the 16 years that PDP reigned, he said.
“Ogbonnaya Onu was an Igbo quintessence who contested the 2023 presidential election on the basis of his impressive credentials, disruptive intellect, visionary acumen, track record of accomplishments, transformative philosophy, equity and unalloyed patriotism.
“He was a moral edifice who rendered sterling services to the country in several capacities and left with neither tarnish nor blemish.
Onu was indeed exemplary, Iwuanyanwu said.
“While we pray to the Almighty to grant the soul of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu an eternal rest in his bosom, we urge the immediate family and indeed the government and the good people of Ebonyi State to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.”
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