Elder statesman and first civilian governor of old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who passed away in April, will be laid to rest on November 8, 2024. He will be interred in his Uburu hometown, located in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
This was announced by the burial committee in a statement signed by former Senate President Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and former Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi.
Dr. Onu, who was the immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, died on April 11, 2024, at the age of 73 following a brief illness.
The burial arrangements include several events:
- November 4: A night of tributes at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
- November 5: Requiem Mass at the Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja.
- November 6: Lying-in-state at the Abia State Executive Council Chambers and a day of tributes at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
- November 7: Lying-in-state at the Ebonyi State Executive Council Chambers and Requiem Mass/Wake at Uburu.
- November 8: The funeral service and interment 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 has remained committed to the deepening and promotion of the ideals of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
“In that way, 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.