The governors of Abia and Imo and other prominent Nigerians have continued to pay tribute to Ogbonnaya Onu, a former governor and minister.

Family sources confirmed the ex-minister’s death in an Abuja hospital on Thursday.

He was aged 72.

In Abia, Governor Alex Otti expressed shock and sadness over the death of the state’s first executive governor.

The governor described Mr Onu’s death as a huge loss to Abia, Ebonyi, the South-East and the nation.

Mr Otti pledged that the Abia government would honour and immortalise him “by upholding the true ideals of democracy, which he stood for.”

Governor Hope Uzodimma also expressed shock over Mr Onu’s demise, describing it as “devastating and unexpected.”

Also reacting, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide described the septuagenarian as “one of the most principled Nigerians.”

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide received with a rude shock the news of the passing on of yet another Igbo titan: a pathfinder, visionary, erudite scholar and astute politician, Onu, at 72. The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was heartbroken on hearing the sad news,” said Ohanaeze.

Abia APC described the deceased as “a true statesman,” saying it lost “a great hero in Nigerian politics.” 

Mr Onu was governor of the old Abia from January 1992 to November 1993, serving on the platform of the National Republic Convention.

He was the All Peoples Party presidential candidate in 1999 and APC presidential aspirant in 2023. 

(NAN)