From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described the late former Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as one of the most principled Nigerians in history.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, in a condolence message signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Alex Ogbonnia, on Friday said that the demise of the first civilian governor of Abia State was shocking.
The statement said that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was heart-broken on hearing the sad news.
Iwuanyanyu lamented the death of high profile Igbo dignitaries in a close sequence: Prof George Obiozor, Prof Joe Irukwu, Elder U. K. Kalu, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwei, Prof Chike Edozien, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and now Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, noting that most of them were members of the Presidential Advisory Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
He recalled how 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.
He said that Ogbonnaya Onu 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).
“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 tarnished 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,” the statement reads.