The remains of the first elected civilian Governor of Abia State and veteran politician, Chief Ogbonnia Onu, will be laid to rest on November 8, 2024.
Details of the burial programme are contained in a press release signed by Anyim Pius Anyim and Chibuike Amaechi on behalf of the burial committee.
The committee, which described Onu as an iconic leader, and a patriot, said that the programme was lined up to give him a benefiting burial.
A peep at the programme showed that on November 4, there will be a night of tributes at the Musa Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja by 5pm, to be followed by a Requiem Mass on November 5 at the Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja at 5pm.
Lying in state will be held at the Abia State Executive Council Chambers on November 6th by 11am and will be followed by a day of tributes at the International Conference Centre Umuahia by 1pm.
On November, 7, there will be Lying in State at the Ebonyi State Executive Council Chambers at I2pm and a Requiem Mass/Wake at Uburu, his hometown, at 5pm
The funeral mass and interment will be held at 9am in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on November, 8 2024.
Dr. Onu was the first elected Civilian Governor of Abia State, and since then, he had remained committed to the deepening and promotion of the ideals of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
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.
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).
Dr. Onu’s remarkable attributes of honesty and dedication earned him further elevation to the office of Minister of Science and Technology and consequently a national honour of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
