Former Governor of Abia State, Ogbonnaya Onu, has passed away, News About Nigeria has learnt.
Onu, who served as Minister of Science and Technology during Muhammadu Buhari’s time as president, died in a hospital in Abuja.
A source within his circle confirmed his death on Thursday, April 11.
Onu, who previously governed Abia State, passed away after a short illness in a hospital whose location was not disclosed.
The deceased hails from Ụbụrụ in the Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi state.
The 72-year-old, who contested for the presidential nomination of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election but lost to President Bola Tinubu, was a politician, author, and engineer until his passing.
Onu served as the first civilian governor of Abia State and held the position of Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Nigeria from November 2015 until he resigned in 2022. He held the record for being the longest-serving minister of that ministry.
As of now, neither his family nor the Ebonyi state government has issued any statements.
However, one of his kinsmen in Ebonyi confirmed his passing, revealing that Onu had been unwell for some time, and his family had planned to take him abroad for medical treatment.
“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,” Sahara Reporters quoted the source as saying.
Following the news of his death, friends and relatives have gathered at his residence in Abuja to offer their condolences to his family.
