By Moses Okorie
A committee set up for the burial of late first governor of Abia State and former national chairman of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has released activities to mark the final journey of the late politician. Onu died on April 11, 2024 at the age of 73.
A release issued in Abuja by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, the burial programme is scheduled to start in Abuja on November 4, and end in November 8, 2024 when his body would be laid to rest at his country home, Uburu, Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi.
According to the release, “The burial committee, on behalf of the Onu’s family of Uburu Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi state, regrets to announce the transition to eternity of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, CON, which sad event occurred on the 11th day of April, 2024, after a brief illness at the age of 73 years.
“Dr. Onu was an engineer, author, and foremost Nigerian politician who traversed the entire Nigerian political landscape, building bridges of peace, national unity, and patriotism.
“Dr. Onu was the first elected Civilian Governor of Abia State, and since then, he remained committed to the deepening and promotion of the ideals of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
“In that wise, he became the first chairman of the Conference of Nigeria elected Governors, and the National Chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) in 2010”.
Recall that in 2013, Dr. Onu successfully led his party to the merger of All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a block of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and a block of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form what is today known as the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He later became Minister of Science and Technology and consequently a national honour of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
The Burial Committee lined-up the following funeral rites: Night of tributes on 4th November at the Musa Yar’ Adua Centre Abuja by 5pm; requiem mass at Church of Assumption Asokoro in Abuja by 5pm on 5th November; lying in state at the Abia State Executive Council Chambers by 11am on 6th November.
There would also be day of tributes at International Conference Centre Umuahia, Abia State by 1pm on 7th November; lying in state at Ebony State Executive Council Chambers by I2noon; requiem mass and wake at Uburu by 5pm, and 8th November there would be funeral service and Interment at Uburu by 11am.