Human rights activist Shehu Sani has stated that the late first civilian governor of Abia State Chief Ogbonnaya Onu could have been Nigeria’s President in 1999 after he won the All Peoples Party, APP primaries in Kaduna but was ousted at the last minute.
“Chief Ogbonaya Onu could have been Nigeria’s President in 1999 after he won the APP primaries 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.”
Speaking on Thursday after the confirmation on the death of the former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Government of Nigeria who died at a hospital in Abuja, Sani described him as a rare breed who lived above politics of rancour and controversy.
“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.”
The former Senator who represented Kaduna Central stated that the late Onu was a very simple man and was greatly unappreciated throughout his political career despite serving and slaving for the country.
“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. May his soul rest in peace.”
