VICE President Kashim Shettima has said that the impact of the late former minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, on Nigeria’s political landscape is immeasurable.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Shettima, in a statement on Friday, April 12, in Abuja, described Onu as a true statesman and accomplished Nigerian leader, adding: “It is with profound sadness that I write to express my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, a true statesman and accomplished Nigerian leader.
“As the first civilian governor of Abia State, he laid a strong foundation for good governance and democratic principles. His legacies in Abia State will forever be remembered.
“As the minister of Science and Technology, his dedication to nation-building was evident in his focus on fostering scientific advancements and technological innovation in our great nation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Shettima said beyond his political achievements, Onu was a man of integrity, wisdom and unwavering principles, noting: “He was a true patriot who dedicated his life to the progress and development of our great nation. His contributions to Nigeria’s development will be forever remembered by the nation.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to you and your family during this difficult time. May the memories of Onu’s remarkable life and the impact he had on countless lives serve as a source of comfort and strength.
“As we join you in mourning the loss of this great Nigerian, be rest assured that his legacies will continue to inspire generations of leaders to come.
“May the Almighty accept and grant his soul rest, and may He grant you and all his friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Onu graduated with a First Class degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos in 1976 before obtaining his doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in the United States (US), four years later.
He served as a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he rose to become the pioneer Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and later, acting dean of the Engineering Faculty.
The 72-year-old began his political career when he unsuccessfully sought a senatorial ticket of the now-defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Imo State.
He later contested and was elected the first civilian governor of the then newly-created Abia State in 1991 under the National Republic Convention (NRC) and was sworn in January 1992.
Onu became the presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) in 1999, but gave up his position to Chief Olu Falae after the defunct APP merged with another party, Alliance for Democracy (AD) for political expediency.
In 2015, he was appointed as minister of Science and Technology by then President Muhammadu Buhari and became the longest-serving minister in the ministry with his reappointment in 2019.
