TheCable

President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of Ogbonnaya Onu, former minister of science and technology.

Onu died on Thursday at the age of 72.

In a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu described Onu’s death as a “gaping loss”.

Tinubu said Onu was a “luminous star in Nigeria’s political firmament”.

The president said the former minister was an “accomplished scholar, first-class engineer, a man of proven integrity, defiant to indiscipline, but ever yielding to the highest standards of rectitude”.

Tinubu added that the late Onu was a principal draughtsman in the founding of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a valiant partner in the victory of the party in the 2015 elections.

“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 statement reads.

Tinubu also consoled the family, friends and associates of the late first civilian governor of Abia state.