By Roland Ike
President Bola Tinubu has lamented that the death of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, say has Nigeria has lost committed patriot and elder statesman.
Tinubu made the remarks in a message to the funeral of the one time Governor of Abia State, at Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
in the message read by the Minister of Works, Chief David Umahi, Tinubu described Onu as a perfect gentleman who staunchly believed in the match towards achieving Nigeria’s true destiny as a great nation.
“Onu was true progressive, 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 for the emergence of All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
“He provided the needed leadership towards the formation of the APC from All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Action Congress of the Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progress Change (CPC),” he said.
The President noted that the APC had continued to grow in leaps and bounds and has produced two presidents since then, including him.
“We will miss him but will continue to uphold the ideals he stood for in life,” he said.
Governor Francis Nwifuru thanked President Bola Tinubu and all the dignitaries who who graced the final honour given to an illustrious son of the state and Nigeria.
“I also thank you on behalf of South East governors for honouring our son who left indelible footprints on the 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 from Governor, Party Chairman to Minister.
“Onu as a former governor of Abia State left infrastructural and human empowerment legacies as Ebonyi was carved from some parts of Abia.”
He donated N100million for the completion of the Christ the King Catholic Church Uburu which was conceived and constructed by Onu.
The Catholic Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji in the funeral service held for Onu, urged people to always live with the realisation that they would face death.
“Our son and father has ran his own race and such is the destiny of every mortal.”
Dignitaries who attended the burial included Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and his counterpart in Enugu State, Peter Mbah.
Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra were represented by their deputies while the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi also graced the occasion.
