BUHARI’S FORMER MINISTER, OGBONNAYA ONU, IS DEAD.

Babatunji Wusu –

Ogbonnaya Onu, a former Minister of Science and Technology under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has died, according to reports.

Onu, the first civilian governor of Abia State, died this morning in an Abuja hospital.

According to a source close to the dead, the former governor died at an unnamed Nigerian hospital following a brief illness.

Another source said that Onu’s burial plans would be disclosed soon by the family.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, a professional engineer, was a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria, before entering politics.

In 1992, the first-class engineering graduate was chosen governor of ancient Abia State. The military cut short his term in 1994. He is from the Uburu community, Ohaozara local government area, in today’s Ebonyi state.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu rose through the ranks of politics to become national chairman of the defunct All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), which ultimately merged with the APC in 2013.

He was appointed Minister of Science and Technology by Nigeria’s immediate past president, Muhammad Buhari, in 2015, after serving in the office for eight years.

In 2023, he ran for the APC presidential nomination, but lost to President Bola Tinubu.

Onu died at the age of 71. He is survived by children and other family members.