The Governors of Abia and Imo as well as other prominent Nigerians have continued to pay glowing tributes to the late former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.
The Family confirmed the death of the elder statesman in an Abuja hospital on Thursday at the age of 72.
In Abia, Gov. Alex Otti expressed shock and sadness over the death of the state’s first Executive Governor.
In a statement issued in Umuahia by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, Otti described Onu’s death as a huge loss to Abia, Ebonyi, the South-East and nation at large.
He also described the deceased as “a true statesman with the character, carriage and disposition required to reposition the nation for the better.
Otti pledged that Abia Government would honour and immortalise him “by upholding the true ideals of democracy, which he stood for”.
In a similar reaction, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo expressed shock over Onu’s demise and described the incident as “devastating and unexpected”.
Uzodimma’s reaction is contained in statement issued in Owerri by his Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku.
The statement further described Onu as “a leading light in the All Progressives Congress (APC) family having, for many years”.
Also reacting, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide described the septuagenarian as “one of the most principled Nigerians”.
The National Publicity Secretary of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, stated this in a statement issued to newsmen in Enugu.
Ogbonnia stated that “Onu was a rare Nigerian, who chose to remain in the opposition throughout the 16 years of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.
He added that Iwuanyanwu lamented the death of high profile Igbo leaders in close sequence, citing the death of his predecessor, Prof. George Obiozor, Prof. Joe Irukwu; Elder U. K. Kalu; Prof. Ben Nwabueze; Dr Sylvanus Ebigwei; Prof. Chike Edozien and Dr Herbert Wigwe.
In a statement by the Abia APC Publicity Secretary, Chief Offor Okorie, the party expressed sadness over Onu’s death.
Okorie described the deceased as “a true statesman”, whose death had plunged the party into a state of sober reflection.
Others, who also paid tribute to the late elder statesman, included the Traditional Ruler of Oriendu Autonomous Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia, Eze Philip Ajomiwe, and the African Democratic Congress’ Governorship Candidate in 2023 in Abia, Bishop Sunday Onuoha.
The royal father and cleric expressed deep regrets over the death of the man they described as a decent, detribalised and principled politician and called on other politicians in the country to emulate his virtue.
In their respective reactions, all the mourners conveyed their condolences to Onu’s family members as well as the government and people of Ebonyi.