Elder Statesman, Ogbonnaya Onu, To Be Buried November 8

Elder statesman and first civilian governor of old Abia State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who died in April, will be buried on November 8, 2024.

He will be laid to rest in his Uburu country home in Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi State.

This was announced in a statement by the burial committee jointly signed by former Senate President Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and former minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi.

Onu, the immediate-past minister of Science and Technology, died on April 11, 2024, aged 73 after a brief illness.

According to the burial committee, on November 4, a night of tributes will be held at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

This will be followed by Requiem Mass at Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja on November 5.

On November 6, there will be a lying-in-state at Abia State Executive Council Chambers, and day of tributes at International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

The next day, November 7, a lying-in-state will be held at Ebonyi State Executive Council Chambers; and Requiem Mass/Wake at Uburu.

On November 8, the funeral service and interment will be held at Uburu, Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi State.

The statement added, “Dr. Onu was an engineer, author, and foremost Nigerian politician who traversed the entire Nigerian political landscape, building bridges of peace, national unity, and patriotism.

“Dr. Onu was the first elected Civilian Governor of Abia State, and since then, he remained committed to the deepening and promotion of the ideals of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

“In that wise, he became the first chairman of the Conference of Nigeria elected Governors, and the National Chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) in 2010.

“In 2013, Dr. Onu successfully led his party to the merger of All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a block of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and a block of Peoples democratic party (PDP). To form what is today known as the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

“Dr. Onu’s remarkable attributes of honesty and dedication earned him further elevation as the Minister of Science and Technology and consequently a national honour of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).

“The nation is saddened by the loss of this iconic leader, patriot, and Statesman,” the statement said.