According to SaharaReporters, the 72-year-old politician died on Thursday morning at an Abuja hospital.
A source close to him in Ebonyi confirmed his death, revealing that Ogbonnaya Onu had been battling illness for some time, with plans underway to seek medical treatment abroad after the Sallah break.
“He has been sick for some time this year and his family said they would fly him abroad to get better medical treatment for him but he could not make it till then,” the source said.
Following news of his passing, friends and family have gathered at his Abuja residence to offer condolences.
Onu, who hailed from Ebonyi State, served as Abia State’s inaugural civilian governor and held the position of Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation from November 2015 until his resignation in 2022.
Before his political career, Onu worked as a teacher and lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt.
He began his political journey as a senatorial aspirant in the old Imo State under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
Winning the gubernatorial seat in Abia State in 1991, Onu served as its first executive governor and chaired the Conference of Nigerian Elected Governors.
He later contested for the presidency in 1999 under the All People’s Party but stepped aside for Olu Falae after his party’s merger with the Alliance for Democracy.
Transitioning to national politics, Onu held positions such as national chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party and later played a key role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He served as Minister of Science and Technology under President Muhammadu Buhari but resigned in 2022.
During the 2023 general election, Onu contested for the APC’s presidential ticket but was defeated by President Bola Tinubu.
This come hours after Nollywood actor, Junior Pope Odonwodo, also known as Jnr Pope, was confirmed dead after he was revived to life.
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