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The Governor of Ebonyi State, Onu’s home state, Ogbonna Nwifuru and the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, have also expressed sadness over the death of the late 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.
“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,” Ebonyi State Governor Nwifuru said.
He said that the death is a great loss to the nation.
“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 Oguwike Nwachuku, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Imo State Governor, said his principal received with shock the sad, devastating and unexpected news of the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, a man he loves to describe as one of Nigeria’s intellectual and political giants with extraordinary gentility.
The statement said that with Onu’s death, the South-East, Nigeria and the global community have lost a statesman who believed so much in the unity, peace, progress and development of Nigeria.
It further said that 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.
Governor Uzodimma, therefore, consoled 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.