The member representing Oshodi/Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, has paid glowing tributes to Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, a former Abia State Governor and elder statesman. Onu is described as a man who ennobled politics with virtue.
In a statement in Abuja on Monday, the Labour Party lawmaker said if there was any particular trait readily noticeable in the late Onu, it was his calm composure and permanent exudation of sanguinity.
“Despite being a consummate politician, how Dr Onu managed to navigate the murky waters of active politics without amassing enemies to himself is, for many, the mark of genius. Which is why observers say no one ever spoke ill or unkind words about Dr Onu – a man known for his Spartan discipline and high ethics,” he said.
The lawmaker said Onu meant many positive things to different people, noting, “For not a few, he was the pinnacle of dependability and constancy.
“His word was his bond. He was steady, unfazed, upbeat, and unyielding like the Rock of Gibraltar. He pitched his tent with the opposition when it appeared a politically imprudent thing to do. All through the transmogrification of the opposition from the All Peoples Party (APP) to the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Onu happily rode the ebb and the flow,” he said.
Onuakalusi said whilst his political peers quickly jumped ship from the opposition to the ruling party and back to the opposition for their benefit, Onu remained focused and content.
“Hence, in 2015, his constancy paid off, as his party, the APC, swept the polls in a landslide. It trounced the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) beyond belief at that year’s general election, after which Dr Onu was appointed the Minister for Science and Technology.
“Dr Onu was a man of conviction. He was also a thoroughgoing, detribalised Nigerian. The principles of unity, equity, teamwork, bridge-building, and compromise seemingly guided him. Yet he was an incurable Igbo romantic, playing a significant role in the Ohaneze Ndigbo as a unifying figure.
“His leadership within Ohanaeze Ndigbo was a testament to his profound commitment to the welfare of the Igbo people, advocating for their rights and spearheading their socio-economic growth. However, he was not narrowly detained by his Igboness, which he saw and exploited as a springboard for connection and friendship across Nigeria’s extensive ethnic bandwidth.”
