By Dennis Agbo

Chairman of Forum of Former Members of Enugu State House of Assembly (FOF-MENHA), Dr. Josef Onoh has paid condolences to the departed former Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, describing him as a man who persevered to his end.

Onoh said that a peculiar treat of Onu was his calmness even in any state of disorder, noting that his character trait endeared him before the public and made him very unassuming.

He recalled Onu’s 2022 speech at the Eagle square during the presidential primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he cried for Justice for the South East in the equality of nationhood, stating that Onu made his point as a great patriot and left the party he founded in peace instead of in pieces as some other politicians would have preferred.

Onoh said that, “Ogbonnaya Onu was a consummate politician who refused to be attracted to violent politicking. He maintained rigidity in his strong beliefs and never wavered on matters of national interests. As a Governor, he was loved by the people of the old Abia state who voted for him as their Governor. He served meritoriously as the state Chief Executive until the military interruption of that quasi-republic.

“Ogbonnaya Onu regarded every Igbo cause as a personal agenda and ensured that the Igbo voice was heard on genuine agitation and attraction of resources. As a party man he was very consistent in maintaining his political philosophy and never cross carpeted among political parties. His consistency won him the Presidential candidacy of the All Peoples Party (APP) in 1998 but surrendered the ticket to Chief Olu Falae in the interest of Nigeria’s cohesiveness.

“He remained in the party he was a co-founder, even in all the evolutions of the APP and transformations from APP to ANPP and finally to the present APC. His story tells of his character worthy of emulation.

“Despite running against President Bola Tinubu during the APC Presidential primary election, Onu kept encouraging me as Tinubu’s campaigner, asking me to keep to my belief, not minding our 30 years relationship.

“We have lost the last descent gentleman in the south east. Adieu silent achiever, Adieu Mr. Consistency!”