OGBONNAYA ONU, SOUTH EAST AND THE SGF REQUEST
Recently, a delegation of the South East APC led by former Abia State Governor, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha visited the President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. The delegation made up of other eminent Igbo sons and daughters appealed to the President Elect to concede the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, to the region.
Indeed, the request for the SGF position by the South East APC is justified for many reasons.
One, the APC in the South East stopped the PDP from generating over 7 million votes it anticipated from the region to reduce the number of votes General Buhari received from other parts of the country at the presidential elections.
Two, one of the great sons of Igboland, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who is one of the leaders of the APC from the South East, was the one who initiated the merger of opposition political parties that gave birth to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
It is on record that Dr. Onu as Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP spearheaded the merger by persuading the leadership of other opposition parties to come together to form a credible opposition to the then ruling PDP.
In an interview with PUNCH Newspaper, Dr.Onu narrated how he initiated the merger
He said “By 2004, which is about 10 years ago, the caucus of the ANPP in the National Assembly— all the senators, and members of the House of Representatives invited me to speak on a very important topic: 'Nigerians should not allow one party rule.'
“At that times, members of the ruling party (the Peoples Democratic Party) were making predictions that the PDP will be in government for up to 60 years and nobody challenged them.
“I felt it was necessary to go and show Nigerians why that will not happen. In the process, I made it clear that the only way that would not happen was if all the opposition political parties came together to provide an effective alternative to promote competition in the political arena. This was in August 2004.
He continued “By December, the same year, the Lagos State House of Assembly invited me and I also made a very important speech that all the opposition political parties needed to come together to ensure that Nigeria had two dominant political parties.
“When I became the National Chairman of the (defunct) ANPP in the last quarter of 2010, I quickly contacted the ACN leadership. By then, the ACN was the only other party that controlled more than one state and they invited me to a meeting. The meeting was held at the Lagos Governor's Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. I went there and spoke to all the leaders, the governors, everybody. And I said, look, we should come together. It was from there that committees were formed.
“The ACN and the ANPP started meeting but you remember that was very close to elections. If you remember, by January parties held their conventions to nominate their Presidential candidates. As the ANPP was talking with the ACN, the ACN started talks with the CPC. The CPC/ACN talks collapsed. That was the one that the public knew so much about. The ANPP/ACN discussions, which the public didn't know about, also collapsed but I didn't give up.
“I and Chief Olu Falae of the Social Democratic Mega Party decided the four parties, the ACN, the CPC, ANPP and the SDMP, should come together to start discussing. The public didn't know about this. We were able to harmonise our constitutions and manifestoes but we had difficulty in deciding who could be the acceptable flag-bearer. We were trying to use a window where Independent National Electoral Commission would allow you to make substitutions but it wasn't possible, so it collapsed again.
“After the elections, General Muhammadu Buhari went to court; the candidate of the ANPP and the ACN didn't go to court; so I waited. The Supreme Court gave its ruling in February 2012. I think about the 3rd of March, I now wrote a letter to the national chairmen of opposition political parties that were controlling at least one state.
“We started meeting; two of the chairmen couldn't join for certain reasons but others kept talking. All we wanted to do was to build trust within us because you can only do business with someone you trust. Finally, we re-established our committees and the committees started meeting and that's how APC was finally formed.
Aside playing a key role in evolving a credible opposition that has metamorpsed into the governing party in the country today, Dr.Onu remains an astute politician whose political voyage in the murky waters of Nigerian politics has been smooth sailing.
He emerged the first Executive Governor of Abia State in 1992 and six years later, he was elected the first Presidential candidate of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP.
Onu also holds the enviable record as the first Igbo man to become the presidential candidate of national political party after the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of blessed memory!
As Igbos strongly demands for the position of SGF, they must also be informed that the position is vital one and can be described as the brain-box of the federal Government. Like the human body, it is like the central nervous system that regulates all activities in the body. Therefore the region should put forward one of its best in the mould of Dr. Onu for the position.
Dr. Chuks Osuji , Imo State director of defunct MAMSER in an article titled “Ogbonnaya Onu As The Next SGF listed several factors why Onu should be the SGF of the present government.
He wrote “For one to be a potentially successful SGF, one must possess some critical leadership qualities which may enable him function not only effectively but also successfully. Before mentioning some of those qualities, it may be necessary to identify some critical qualities of a good leader.
“A good leader at the level of SGF must have a discerning mind to grasp instantly the arrays of issues as they emerge with unrelenting rapidity and be able to take prompt decisions on each of those issues of both domestic and international implications. He must be intelligent with a good measure of wisdom to be able to be briefing the President regularly as scheduled or without prior notice but at the prompting of the President.
“Thus, putting together all the above identified qualities which a potentially successful SGF should possess, in fact, without sounding immodest, or even simplistic, those Nigerians in a position to know should agree with me that Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu can fit into this position appropriately and because he has what it takes to be a successful SGF.
“A noiseless, experienced and well-nurtured politician with a difference, Dr. Onu is one Nigerian that has quietly pioneered several efforts to ensure that this country has a workable political and administrative system which should serve the generality of Nigerians.
Aside his political pedigree and sterling leadership qualities which he promptly exhibited as Governor of Abia State and National Chairman of defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party,(ANPP), Onu's rich academic background is eloquent testimony of his ability to deliver if appointed the SGF of the country.
Born on December 1, 1951, in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Dr. Christopher Ogbonnaya Onu obtained grade one with distinction in his West African School Certificate examination at Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
He also obtained distinctions in Physics and Chemistry at the Higher School Certificate examination at the College of Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu, graduating as the best overall student. By 1976, he graduated with First Class Honours degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos. He later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, UC Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980.
He worked as a Research Staff and Consultant at the Engineering Research Center, Western Electric in New Jersey, USA. While in UC Berkeley, Dr. Onu was the President of the African Students Union; Member, Graduate Assembly of the University of California, Berkeley and President of the Nigerian Association of Northern California, Inc.
On return to Nigeria, he started lecturing as the pioneer Head, Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering in 1985 and was also elected by Senate into the Governing Council of the University. In 1989, Dr. Onu served as a Directors of the Nigeria Cement Company, Nigercem, Nkalagu; Visitor of Abia State University, Uturu. He was the pioneer National President of the Raw Materials Society of Nigeria; Member, Pioneer Board of Governors of the Federal Government Raw Materials Research and Development Council.
In 1991, he was elected the first Governor of old Abia State. He commenced work on the establishment of a Technology Village and the introduction of computers into public schools. He was the first Chairman, Conference of Nigerian elected Governors. He was honoured with the Governor of the year (1992) award and also the Star Governor award.
Dr. Onu is known to have conducted research successfully into various Chemical Engineering. He has written many books and published journals. He is a member of the ancient and noble order of the Knights of St. John International, KSJ.
Dr. Onu is a COREN Registered Engineer, Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers and the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
An administrator par excellence, If General Buhari really wants to hit the ground running and achieve the task of realizing his dream of achieving his set targets and objectives, men of solid character, integrity and credibility like Dr. Onu should be appointed the SGF of the incoming government.
Written by Innocent Onyeukwu.