The remains of the late first civilian governor of Abia State and former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was laid to rest on Friday amidst showers of encomiums.
This is even as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu bemoaned the death, describing the passing of Onu as a great loss to the nation.
According to the President, death has robbed Nigeria of a committed patriot and elder statesman.
Tinubu made the remark on Friday, at Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi during the burial ceremony of the late politician.
Onu died at the age of 72 years.
Speaking at the funeral, Tinubu described the late Onu as a perfect gentleman who staunchly believed in the match toward achieving Nigeria’s true destiny as a great nation.
He said, “Onu was a true progressive and 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 to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
“He provided the needed leadership toward the formation of the APC from All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of the Nigeria (ACN), and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),” Tinubu said.
The President noted that the APC has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. He noted that the party has produced two Presidents, including himself, since then.
“We will miss him but will continue to uphold the ideals he stood for in life,” he said.
In his speech, the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru thanked Tinubu and all the dignitaries that attended the funeral.
He said, “I also thank you on behalf of Southeast Governors for honouring our son who left indelible footprints on Ebonyi and Nigeria.
“We bid farewell to a man who gave his all to the service of mankind. And who had an inspirational trajectory of political success from Governor, Party Chairman and Minister.
“Onu as a former Governor of Abia State, left infrastructural and human empowerment legacies. This is even as Ebonyi was carved from some parts of Abia,” he said.
Nwifuru donated N100 million for the completion of the Christ the King’s Catholic Church, Uburu. The project was conceived and constructed by the late Onu.
The Catholic Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, led the funeral church service.
Preaching his sermon, the Archbishop urged people to always live with the realization that they would face death.
He said, “Our son and father has ran his own race and such is the destiny of every mortal.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some Southeast Governors attended the burial. Those present were Governors Alex Otti of Abia State and Peter Mbah of Enugu State.
The Governors of Imo and Anambra States, Hope Uzodimma and Chukwuma Soludo were represented by their deputies.
Among top political leaders at the occasion included the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and the All Progressives Congress, National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje.
source: NAN
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