Ogbonaya Onu, APP Placeholder In 1999, Dies At 72

One of the prominent politicians in the country, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, is dead.

The deceased politician served as Minister of Science and Technology under former president Muhammadu Buhari precisely from 2015 to 2022.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Onu, a former governor of Abia state, died after a short illness .

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, he had relaunched his presidential bid and he had sought for the APC presidential nomination.

The late Dr Onu would be specially remembered for the role he played ahead of the 1999 presidential election.

There were then only 3 political parties; PDP, APP and AD, and while there was an unspoken understanding that the presidential candidates of all the political parties would be from the Southwest, the APP and the AD had also felt it important to form an alliance that will make them defeat the PDP and its presidential candidate, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

While the AD was ready to come up with a presidential candidate through the party leaders, the APP was preparing to hold its presidential primary election in Kaduna .

Realizing that the likes of late Dr Olusola Saraki may not be malleable, the APP leader had tricked him by making arrangements for two separate venues and hiding the real venue from the 2nd republic Senate Leader.

Before you can say Jack Robinson, the delegates had gathered at the ‘special’ venue and had Dr Ogbonaya Onu elected as APP presidential candidate.

Being a placeholder, a joint presidential ticket of Chief Olu Falae (AD)  and Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi (APP) was later announced.

To late Chief Bola Ige’s chagrin, Falae had earlier emerged as AD presidential candidate.

While Falae , a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was the presidential candidate of the AD/APP joint presidential ticket, Shinkafi was the vice presidential candidate.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo eventually won the presidential election in 1999, got re-elected in 2003 and later left office in 2007-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you