Dr. Onu Was an Exemplary Patriot - Hon. Igwe.
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Uchenna Igwe, has described the former governor of old Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, as an exemplary patriot whose humble and peaceful style of politics should be emulated by Ndi Igbo and the entire Nigerians. Hon. Uchenna Igwe was speaking to news men at the sidelines of the requiem mass in honour of the former national chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, late Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, which held on Friday, 8th November, 2024 at Christ the King Parish, Uburu.
In the words of Hon. Igwe: "Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is a man who has seen it all. He was an academic of international repute, the first elected governor of old Abia State, National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Science, Technology and Innovations.
"In all these, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu remained humble, simple and a committed patriot worthy of emulation. His peaceful approach to politics is responsible for the gathering of the governors of the five States of South-Eastern Nigeria: Builder Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Prof. Chukwuma Solid (Anambra), Barr Peter Mbah (Enugu), Dr. Alex Oti (Abia); and a cross section of the Nigerian political class under one roof. I pray that the unity we see among Ndi Igbo here will continue to strengthen".
"May God grant the peaceful soul of Dr. Christopher Ogbonnaya Onu and the souls of all the departed faithful eternal rest in His bosom. Amen."
Recall that Dr. Onu who, in 1998, sacrificed his presidential ambition for national interest joined his ancestors in April, 2024 at the age of 72. Dr. Onu's weeklong rites of passage culminated in the requiem mass/interment. The requiem mass was concelebrated by chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference, His Grace, Most Rev. Archbishop Lucius Ugorji; and their Lordships, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Jonas Benson of Nnewi Diocese, Emeritus Bishop Michael Okoro of Abakaliki Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Chukwu of Abakaliki Diocese; and Rev. Fr. Festus Obaji of Christ the King Parish, Uburu.
Dignitaries who attended Dr. Onu's requiem mass included the governors of the five States of South-East of Nigeria; the national chairman of All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Ganduje; Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi; Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi; former President of the Nigerian Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim; former governor of Rivers State, Chief Rotimi Amechi; Vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Ben Odoh and a host of others.