Ogbonnaya Onu Declares Aspiration To Succeed Buhari

By Gideon Njoku

The quiet and cerebral Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has finally decided to throw his hat into the already crowded ring of the Presidential race in 2023.

Onu, an academic, former University of Porthacourt Teacher, and a former Governor of old Abia State is from Ebonyi State.

Onu is a foundation founder of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He founded APC along with President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a couple of others.

And, since Buhari’s Presidency in 2015, he has remained the Minister for Science and Technology.

While Buhari was forming his Government, many had expected, and touted Onu as the incoming Secretary to the Federal Government, SGF,  but it went to Babachir Lawal,  a Tinubu loyalist, and one of those who has just purchased Tinubu’s Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms. Lawal, however, lost the position several months after his appointment over an alleged scandal for which he is still being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In the past weeks, Onu’s name had cropped up as a possible Buhari trump-card. Many see him as decent, polished and untainted. He never confirmed his interest until Thursday, April 5, 2022, when invitations to his declaration ceremony surfaced.

According to the invitation signed by Dr Uzoma Onu, the Minister will declare his interest in Abuja at the NUJ International Press Center, on May 6, 2022.

Onu will be the third Ebonyi son to declare interest in Buhari’s office.

The first was  former Senate President and former SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

The second is the State Governor, Dave Umahi under the APC. And, now, Onu.