Okezie mourns Ogbonaya Onu’s passage, says he was man of integrity

Immediate past governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed deep sadness at the death of the first civilian governor of the old Abia State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu who died on Thursday in Abuja at the age of 72 years.

Ikpeazu, in a statement by his former aide, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, described the death of Dr Onu as a massive loss to the political development of the country and especially, to Ndigbo, whose political cause he championed with passion and zeal.

The former governor recalled Dr Onu’s time as the first democratically elected governor of the old Abia State, between January 1992 and December 1993, a period that was characterized by peaceful coexistence and the setting of the ideological foundations for the development of Abia State.

Ikpeazu said, “Dr Onu was an astute academic and administrator. He was calm, gentle and never played politics without bitterness. After his service in the state, he went to the national stage where he held different positions wherein he left legacies of honour and patriotism. His death has left a big vacuum in our political space”.

“Perhaps, the greatest political legacy for which Dr Onu will be remembered is that he played politics with integrity and remained very consistent in his ideologies. Whether in the ruling party or in the opposition, he remained resolute to his ideals”.

Ikpeazu prayed God to accept his gentle soul and comfort his family and the entire people of the old Abia State.