* Had Throat Surgeries Twice; Was To Be Flown Abroad For Treatment By FG
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
Immediate-past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in the ex- President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Thursday morning, died of malignant cancer of the throat.
He passed on at the Jabi hospital, Abuja, at the age of 72 years. Onu has been out of the public space since the last 2023 general elections when he and a few presidential aspirants contest the presidential primary at the Eagle Square, Abuja, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr Onu, a former University lecturer and an ex-governor of the old Abia State who hails from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, South East Nigeria, was said to have been receiving treatment for the throat cancer for several months in the United States of America where his family is based.
He was said to have had two successful surgeries on his throat in a US hospital but the operation severely affected his speech such that he was no longer audible enough when he spoke or engages in verbal communication. With the relative improvement in his health after the throat surgery, Ogbonnaya Onu returned to the country early this year to manage his cancer ailment at home.
The three-time former presidential aspirant/candidate was also said to be receiving treatment at the Jabi hospital, Abuja for about two or three weeks now when his cancer condition reportedly grew worse, which prompted the federal government to mull the option of flying him abroad again to continue treatment for his cancer ailment.
A close family source told NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper on Thursday afternoon that arrangements for Onu's treatment abroad has already been perfefted by the government and his family before his sudden demise. He was said to have lost his younger brother about two weeks ago in a most painful circumstance, though the younger Onu is yet to be buried before the passing of the former minister.
Both family and hospital sources revealed to NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper that Dr Ogbonnaya Onu's health situation had degenerated very badly in the past few days before his death. Experienced specialist oncology doctors were said to have been battling to salvage the critical condition of Onu's health, who, himself, is an American trained chemical scientist.
As the tragic but shocking news of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu's death reverberates across the country on this Eid-el-Fitri public holiday, a pall of gloom currently cast over his Asokoro, Abuja, residence and even across his home town, Uburu, in Ebonyi state. Family members wore long faces in deep grief. His party, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is equally in deep mourning. Condolences from top party chieftains have began to pour in.
All through his political career which began since 1982 when he was a board member of the defunct Nigeria Cement Company (NIGERCEM) Nkalagu, Ebonyi state, Onu has played a quiet, decent and gentleman's politics which has earned him great respect and commendation by Nigerians. He was a first generation notable political figure from the old Ohaozara province which includes his home town, Uburu.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, one of the contemporary political leaders from the South East, was born on December 1,1951, to the family of His Royal Highness, Late Eze David Aba Onu, Eze Adu of Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria.
He obtained grade one with distinction in his West African School Certificate Examination at Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Dr Onu also obtained distinctions in Physics and Chemistry at the Higher School Certificate examination at the College of Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu, graduating as the best overall student.
By 1976, he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos. He later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering (without passing through a Masters degree) at the reputable University of California, Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980, where he did extensive work on coal liquefaction and production of synthetic fuels under mild conditions.
He showed that it was possible under relatively mild conditions to produce synthetic fuels comparable with crude oil. While in the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Onu was the President of the African Students Union; Member, Graduate Assembly of the University of California at Berkeley and also President of the Nigerian Association of Northern California, Inc. Back home, he served as President General of his alma-mater, Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Old Boys Association.
On coming back from overseas, he taught at a seminary and at the University of Port Harcourt as the pioneer Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering.
As a pioneer staff in the Faculty of Engineering and the first Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, he helped nurture the department from scratch to a position of repute. As a member of the Governing Council of the University, he worked with others to provide leadership in its search for excellence.
Dr Onu is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.
In 1991, Dr Onu was elected the first Governor of old Abia State. He was the first Chairman, Conference of Nigerian elected Governors. During his tenure as Governor, he emphasized the use of technology as an important instrument for national development by starting the processes for the establishment of a Technology Village, as well as introducing computers into selected public schools.
As Governor, he abolished the State of Origin Syndrome in Abia State and led the way in appointing non-indigenes of the State into top positions of responsibility in his Administration
Using the Abia Dream as a philosophy to mobilize the people of the State to achieve excellence in all spheres of human endeavour, Dr Onu founded the Abia State Polytechnic at Aba. He also established the College of Technical Education in Arochukwu and attracted the Michael Okpara Federal University of Agriculture at Umudike, near Umuahia.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu was married to a brilliant and equally well educated woman. They had three children who are well trained in America and very successful in their various careers. NNL.
