TheCable

Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, has described the late Ogbonnaya Onu as a statesman who believed in the unity, peace, and development of the nation.

Onu, a former minister of science and technology under former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the first civilian governor of Abia state, was confirmed dead on Thursday at the age of 72.

In a statement, the governor described Onu’s death as “most devastating and shocking”.

Uzodimma noted that until his death, Onu remained a leading light in the All Progressives Congress (APC), who imbibed the tenets of progressive democracy as easiest route to serve the people.

“Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu’s death is, to say the least, a devastating shock to the entire south-east, Nigeria and the global community. Indeed, Nigeria has lost a statesman who believed so much in the unity, peace, progress and development of the nation,” Uzodimma said.

“At 72, Onu remained a leading light in the All Progressives Congress (APC) family having, for many years, imbibed the tenets of progressive democracy as the easiest route to serve the people.

“The governor and government of Imo state therefore console the APC family, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the government of Nigeria, the south-east geopolitical zone, the government and people of Ebonyi state and all political associates of the deceased over the huge loss.

“I pray that God will grant the Dr. Onu’s family the grace and fortitude to bear the burden of the unexpected loss even as I pray for the repose of the soul of the one time presidential aspirant of the APC and presidential candidate of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP).”