Victor EzejaFormer lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has expressed sadness over the death of first civilian governor of Abia State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, saying he could have been Nigeria’s president in 1999.
Sani stated this while reacting to the news of Dr Onu’s death which occured on Thursday in Abuja.
Dr Onu, a former Minister of Science and Technology during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, died at the age of 72.
Sani said Onu had won the All Progressive Party (APP) Presidential primary held in Kaduna ahead of the 1999 general election but was “deliberately displaced after a midnight merger with the then AD” (Action Alliance) because the outgoing military government wanted a candidate from Southwest.
Prime Business Africa understands that the merger of the political parties, saw Olu Falae of AD emerge as presidential candidate but lost to Olusegun Obasanjo, who won under the platform of the People Democratic Party.
READ ALSO:
Writing on his X handle Sani said: “Chief Ogbonaya Onu could have been Nigeria’s President in 1999 after he won the APP primary in Kaduna attended by the likes of the late Ikemba of Nnewi Chief Ojukwu.
“He was deliberately displaced after a midnight merger with the then AD. The military wanted Obasanjo and Falae.”
The former Senator representing Kaduna Central described the late Chief Onu as a decent man and a true patriot with uncommon nationalist credentials.
“The late Chief Onu is one of Nigeria’s most distinguished, decent and disciplined political figures in history.
“He has been an influential figure in Nigeria’s politics for over four decades. A Senator in the second republic,a Governor in the third republic and a Presidential Candidate, Party Chairman and Minister in the fourth republic.
“He is a rare breed politician who lived as unstained, untainted and unblemished like his white apparel.
“He was a man who lived and served his country with decorum and impactful anonymity. He was a true patriot whose nationalist credentials can’t be faulted by any section of the country.
“Onu was an unnoticed and unappreciated gentleman and national leader. In words and in deeds,he lived above politics of rancour and controversy.
“In 1999, the outgoing military wanted power to shift to the South West.
“Onu was a Simple man. His known residence in Asokoro remains the one rented for him by his party the ANPP, when he was elected its Chairman. He remained there throughout his tenure as a minister,” Sani added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
