Former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim has mourned the death of ex-Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu.

He said the late politician exhibited “politics without bitterness” while alive.

Ohakim said Nigeria lost a rare gem whose wealth of experience is needed at such a crucial time.

In a statement he signed, the former governor said Nigerians owe Onu’s “memory nothing better than strive to live up to those ideas that he cherished and lived for.”

According to Ohakim: “It is with profound grief that I joined millions of other Nigerians to mourn my brother, a highly patriotic Nigerian and an academic per excellence, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

“The news of the passage Dr. Onu came to me with a big shock.

“Dr Onu was a fine gentleman, unassuming and lived truly to the ambiance of politics without bitterness.

“Nigeria has lost a rear gem whose maturity, brilliance, and wealth of experience in National service is highly needed during this most crucial period of our collective existence.”

Dr Onu who was the first civilian governor in Abia State, died in Abuja on Thursday.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain has been battling with an undisclosed ailment.

Onu’s last major public appearance was during the APC primary election in 2022 when he alleged injustice against the people of Southeast.

Former president, Muhammadu Buhari had in November 2015 appointed Onu as the Minister of Science and Technology.

The former governor, however, resigned his position on May 6, 2022 to join the APC presidential race, which he lost to President Bola Tinubu.