Abia State Governor ,Dr. Alex Otti of has expressed shock and sadness over the death of the first Civilian Governor of the Old Abia and former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.
This is contained in press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, and made available to newsmen in Umuahia.
Otti described Onu’s death as a huge loss to Abia, Ebonyi, the Southeast geopolitical zone and the nation at large.
The Governor said that the deceased was a true statesman with the character, carriage and disposition required to reposition the nation for the better.
“Dr Ogbonnaya was a gentleman and statesman with rich experience and wealth of knowledge, and was very outstanding in his character, comportment and engagements.
“Even though he held public offices both as a Governor and Minister respectively at difficult times, he was never associated with conducts or controversies capable of diminishing his reputation and personality.
“We are therefore saddened by his demise at a time his statesman contributions and interventions were needed in Nigeria”, he said.
Otti pledged that Abia Government would honour and immortalise Onu by upholding the true ideals of democracy which the he stood for.
He further said that the State Government would ensure that the welfare and well-being of the people of Abia would be made an institutionalised priority at all times.
He urged politicians to emulate Onu’s model of decency, decorum and contentment in public service in order to institutionalize the practice of stewardship in the nation’s polity.
Otti prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal repose in His bosom, and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
