BREAKING:Abia State First Governor Dies at 72

A former Abia State Governor, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu is dead.

Dr. Onu passed away on Thursday morning in an Abuja hospital at the age of 72.

Dr. Onu’s demise was confirmed by a close associate from Ebonyi, highlighting the former governor’s health struggles that led to plans for medical treatment abroad after the Sallah holiday. Unfortunately, he succumbed before the arrangements could be realized. “He has been battling illness this year, and his family was looking to seek advanced medical treatment abroad for him, but that was not to be,” the source disclosed.

Born in Ebonyi State, Dr. Onu’s political and professional career was one of notable achievements and service. After a period of working as a teacher and lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, he ventured into politics, initially contesting for a senatorial seat in the then Imo State with the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). His political journey saw him elected as the first civilian governor of Abia State in 1991 under the National Republican Convention. He made history again as the first chairman of the Conference of Nigerian elected governors.

Despite a setback in 1999 when he stepped down as the presidential candidate of the All People’s Party in a coalition that ultimately did not succeed against the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Onu continued to serve his nation with distinction. He held the position of national chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party and played a significant role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the current ruling party in Nigeria.

In 2015, Dr. Onu was appointed as Minister of Science and Technology by President Muhammadu Buhari, a role he diligently served in until his resignation in 2022.