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President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the Onu family over the passing of Former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, CON.

This is also as the Igbo apex socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described his death as a rude shock.

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The President in a statement signed by his Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, condoled with the friends and associates of Chief Onu, Ebonyi and Abia State Governments, and all Nigerians grieving loss.

Affirming the late statesman as a defender of Nigeria’s unity and advocate of peace, and promoting fellowship across the Niger, President said Chief Oni epitomizes Nigeria in concord and wholeness.

The Nigerian Leader then celebrates the life of Chief Onu, describing him as an accomplished scholar, first-class engineer, a man of proven integrity; defiant to indiscipline and ever yielding to the highest standards of rectitude

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President Tinubu prays to God Almighty to grant repose to the soul of the elder statesman, Chief Onu.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Mourns Onu

In a press release made available to Pacesetter and signed by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the body described Onu as a moral edifice.

The full statement reads: “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has received with a rude shock the news of the passing on of yet another Igbo Titan; a path finder, visionary, erudite scholar, astute politician, the first governor of the Old Abia State, former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a gentleman per excellence, His Excellency, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, CON at 72.

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“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, MFR; OFR; CFR; FNICE; FNSE; KSC (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo) was heart-broken on hearing the sad news. The Igbo Leader lamented the death of high profile Igbo dignitaries in a close sequence: 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 today, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; most of who were members of the Presidential Advisory Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“The Igbo Leader recalled with freshness how Dr.Ogbonnaya Onu 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.

“Above all, Ogbonnaya Onu was one of the most principled Nigerian; he was a rare Nigerian who resisted all the entreaties and tantalizing perquisites of the ruling party, but chose to remain in the opposition throughout the 16 years of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

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“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.

“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”.

Chief Onu passed away on Thursday at the age of 72.

Chief Ogbonnaya Onu was born on 1st December 1951, he was a Nigerian politician, author, and engineer until his death in April 2024.

He was the first civilian governor of Abia State and was the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Nigeria from November 2015 until his resignation in 2022. He was also an All Progressives Congress party Chieftain.