2023 PRESIDENCY: Is The Immediate Past Minister For Science, Technology & Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu The Preferred Candidate Of President Buhari?

Buhari & Onu.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Deacon Femi Adesina a few hours ago, disclosed that already, President Muhammadu Buhari has a preferred candidate who would succeed him in 2023.

Femi Adesina disclosed this on Channels Television’s Politics Today, saying that when the President was asked whether he had a favourite candidate, he answered yes; but he will not mention him because mischief may happen to that person.

“That shows you that the President himself is interested in the process, and he has a preferred candidate, but whether he will impose his candidate is what you cannot determine at the moment.”

So, “Precious Eze’s Blog” beamed her searchlight on some of those desiring to take over from the president, from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor Tunde Bakare, some of the minister, Rotimi Amaechi, Godswill Akpabio, Chris Ngige (who has reneged), Ogbonnaya Onu, Emeka Nwajiuba and we arrived at the Ebonyi State bone former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, to fly the flag on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

The president has a very cordial and good relationship with Ogbonnaya Onu which dates back, they are not only friends, they are confidants according to what this platform learnt, which was why he had to make him a minister with none flamboyant ministry, where he would be quiet till when his plans for him is mature enough for exposure.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was born on the 1^st of December, 195, a politician, author and engineer. He was the first civilian governor of Abia State and the current Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. He was a two term and the longest serving Minister of the ministry of Science and Technology in history.

Ogbonnaya Onu was born to the family of His Royal Highness, Late Eze David Aba Onu, Eze Adu 1 of Uburu in Amata, Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of then Eastern region, later Imo State, then Abia State and now Ebonyi State.

He started his education at Izzi High School in Abakaliki, now the Ebonyi State capital, where he obtained his grade one with distinction in his West African School Certificate Examination. He also sat for the High School Examination at College of Immaculate Conception (C.I.C) Enugu, graduating as the overall best student. 

He proceeded to the University of Lagos and graduated with a first class degree in Chemical Engineering in 1976. He went for his doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering in 1980. 

After his graduation from the University of Lagos, Ogbonnaya Onu became a teacher at St. Augustine's Seminary, Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State. After the completion of his doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Onu became a lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, and later became the pioneer Head of the Department. He also served as the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and was also elected as a Member of the Governing Council of the University. 

Ogbonnaya Onu started his political Career as an aspirant for a Senatorial seat in the old Imo State on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN. He contested for the position of Governor of Abia State in 1991 under the umbrella of the National Republican Convention and won. He was sworn in as the first Executive Governor of the State in January 1992. He was the first chairman, Conference of Nigerian elected Governors.

In 1999, he was the Presidential flag bearer for the All People's Party, but relinquished the position to Olu Falae after a merger of his party with the Alliance for Democracy who lost to Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP. He then became the National Party Chairman of the All Nigerian People's Party 2010. 

In 2013, he his party ANPP, successfully merged with the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Democratic People's Party, DPP and some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA to form the All Progressives Congress, APC and in November 2015, he was appointed Minister of Science and Technology by President Muhammadu Buhari.

On the 21^st of August, 2019, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was sworn in again as Minister of Science and Technology by President Muhammadu Buhari, making him the longest serving minister in that ministry. 

So, it is very obvious that Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu maybe the preferred candidate Mr. Femi Adesina talked about, if not, why would he agree to buy the Presidential Form by the APC, pegged at N100million, even when he looks as one who may not put his hands into any venture he is not sure of. And the fact that the President maybe willing to give the South-East what they had been clamouring for, the presidency, especially the person the president trusts and he is, Ogbonnaya Onu.

“Precious Eze’s Blog” will continue to dig into this matter and will bring you for information as we gather.