‘Politician of honour, integrity’: Ikpeazu mourns ex-minister Onu

The immediate past governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has expressed sadness at the death of the former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, describing the latter as “a politician of honour and integrity”

Onu, the first civilian governor of Abia State, died at the age of 72 on Thursday, April 11, 2024.

Ikpeazu, in a statement on Thursday, described the death of Onu as “a massive loss to the political development of our country and especially, to Ndigbo, whose political cause he championed with passion and zeal.”

The former governor further stated that Onu’s time as the first democratically elected governor of the old Abia State between January 1992 and December 1993, was characterised by peaceful coexistence and the setting of the ideological foundations for the development of the state.

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He added: “Dr Onu was an astute academic and administrator. He was calm, gentle, and never played politics without bitterness. After his service in the state, he would go on to the national stage where he held different positions wherein he left legacies of honour and patriotism. His death has left a big vacuum in our political space.

“Perhaps, the greatest political legacy for which Dr Onu will be remembered is that he played politics with integrity and remained very consistent in his ideologies. Whether in the ruling party or in the opposition, he remained resolute in his ideals.

“I pray God to accept his gentle soul and comfort his family and the entire people of Abia State.”

The Star