President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has extended his deepest condolences to the Onu family over the death of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 72.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Ogbonna Nwifuru and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, have also expressed sadness over the death of the politician.
The death of the first civilian governor of Abia State and former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, was confirmed on Thursday.
A statement signed by President Tinubu’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, read in part, “The President celebrated the life of an accomplished scholar, first-class engineer; a man of proven integrity; defiant to indiscipline, but ever yielding to the highest standards of rectitude.
“President Tinubu affirms that Chief Onu epitomizes Nigeria in concord; in wholeness, as the late statesman believed in and defended Nigeria’s unity, advocated peace, and promoted fellowship across the Niger.
“The President also condoles with the friends and associates of Chief Onu, Ebonyi and Abia State Governments, and all Nigerians grieving this gaping loss.
“President Tinubu prays to God Almighty to grant repose to the gentle soul of this great leader.”
Also, Nwifuru described Onu’s death as a great loss to the nation.
“I received with rude shock the news of the death of the former Governor of Old Abia State, and an illustrious Son of our State His Excellency Dr Ogbonna Onu,” he said.
“It is indeed a sad development to lose a patriotic leader who stopped at nothing to render the best services to his people when he served in different capacities,” he said about the APC chieftain and extended his condolences to the family of the deceased.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Ebonyi State, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the immediate family and pray to God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
A statement by a spokesperson to Uzodimma, described Onu as one of Nigeria’s intellectual and political giants with extraordinary gentility.
The Imo State governor said with Onu’s death, the South-East, Nigeria and the global community lost a statesman who believed so much in the unity, peace, progress and development of Nigeria.Uzodimma, therefore, consoled the All Progressives Congress (APC) family, and the people of Nigeria over the huge loss.
