By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha has stated that the late Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, would be given a befitting burial, considering his status in the Party and the Country at large.

Onu was elected the first civilian Governor of the old Abia State in 1991 under the platform of the National Republic Convention, NRC. He was sworn in January 1992.

Emegha who explained that Onu contributed immensely to the formation, nurturing and advancement of the Party in the country, added that the APC, both State and Federal Governments will definitely come together to give him a befitting burial.

The Party Chairman stated this in Abakaliki on Friday.

According to him, “We feel bad about his death. His death is about someone who is the leader of the Party. It has so with someone who is a founding member of APC. Someone who has nurtured the Party to the level of winning elections.

“There’s no time the Party will feel alright about his death. One thing that is sure is that God giveth and also taketh. This is the appointed time. Heaven has called him and the Party is in shock. What happened was least expected.

“It has been a very long time that he has been sick and he has survived the sickness and coming to hear this type of thing now wasn’t what we expected and as such, we feel bad about it.

“Let Mr. President be consoled. Let the National Working Committee of the Party be consoled. Let the State be consoled and his family take heart.

“Whatever we can do to give him a befitting burial, we will do. He is not only Party man but he is owned by Abia State Government as the first Civilian Governor of the State.

“He served as a Minister and as such, it is something that the entire country will give him the last respect.”