Youths Initiative For Grassroot Development calls on His Excellency Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu to contest for Nigerian Presidency.

WHY NIGERIANS ARE DESIROUS OF HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. OGBONNAYA ONU. TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA COME 2023.

It was an American author John Calvin Maxwell who once defined a "Leader as one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way".

This is a perfect description of His Excellency, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu. Who is currently Nigeria's minister of Science, Technology and Innovations.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was born on 1st December 1951, to the family of His Royal Highness, Late Eze David Aba Onu, Eze Adu of Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria. He obtained grade one with distinction in his West African School Certificate examination at Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Dr Onu also obtained distinctions in Physics and Chemistry at the Higher School Certificate examination at the College of Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu, graduating as the best overall student. In 1976, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu graduated with a first-class honours degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos. He later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering (without passing through a Masters degree) at the reputable University of California, Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980, where he did extensive work on coal liquefaction and production of synthetic fuels under mild conditions.

He showed that it was possible under relatively mild conditions to produce synthetic fuels comparable with crude oil. While in the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Onu was the President of the African Students Union; Member, Graduate Assembly of the University of California at Berkeley and also President of the Nigerian Association of Northern California, Inc. Back home, he served as President General of his alma-mater, Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Old Boys Association.

On coming back from overseas, he taught as a seminary and at the University of Port Harcourt as the pioneer Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering.

As a pioneer staff in the Faculty of Engineering and the first Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, he helped nurture the department from scratch to a position of repute. As a member of the Governing Council of the University, he worked with others to provide leadership in its search for excellence. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.

In 1991, Dr Onu was elected the first Governor of old Abia State. He was the first Chairman, Conference of Nigerian elected Governors. During his tenure as Governor, he emphasized the use of technology as an important instrument for national development by starting the processes for the establishment of a Technology Village, as well as introducing computers into selected public schools. As Governor, he abolished the State of Origin Syndrome in Abia State and led the way in appointing non-indigenes of the State into top positions of responsibility in his Administration. Using the Abia Dream as a philosophy to mobilize the people of the State to achieve excellence in all spheres of human endeavour, Dr Onu founded the Abia State Polytechnic at Aba. He also established the College of Technical Education in Arochukwu and attracted the the the Michael Okpara Federal University of Agriculture at Umudike, near Umuahia.

In addition, Dr Onu established the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State as well as the National Ambassador Newspapers, which then won several awards as the best State-owned Newspaper in Nigeria. In 1999, he emerged the first Presidential Flagbearer of the then All Peoples Party, APP, which was later known as the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. A true democrat and committed party loyalist, Dr Onu demonstrated rare political discipline and consistency, by remaining one of the very few founding leaders of the opposition ANPP who remained in the party since its inception in 1998 until it merged into a new political party in 2013.

In September 2010, he was elected the National Chairman of the party. In 2010, as National Chairman of the defunct ANPP, he initiated discussions with the leadership of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria {ACN} on how all the major opposition political parties could work together to effect change in the politics of the country. Later he also initiated meetings with the National Chairmen of all major opposition political parties. All these efforts and many others finally resulted in the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC), and groups from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

Hence on July 31, 2013, the All Progressives Congress (APC), came into existence. Dr Onu and other party leaders willingly gave up their positions as INEC withdrew the registration of ACN, ANPP and CPC. On November 26, 2013, the new PDP, broke away from the ruling political party and joined the APC. This helped make the APC, the largest opposition political party in the history of the country.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is generally accepted in the core Norths. The real northeners are comfortable of him. Records has it that he is genuinely loved by the northerners across party divide.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is incorruptible. He is a "Political Saint" in the context of Nigeria Politics. He is very pure in heart as his white dress. He is not into politics for personal aggrandizements. He has never been accused nor charged to court for corruption or other related offenses. Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has never been found wanting in one way or the other. He is a perfect gentleman. He is a non violent person, quiet, humble, calm, clean, sincere, honest, good conscience, loyal, superb and a complete personality. These are sterling qualities the past and present leaders of Nigeria possessed or possesses. Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is not a noise maker. He did not enrich himself in his years as a public servant.  Just Like Buhari, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is not a corrupt politician. And president Buhari can never make a mistake of supporting anybody who has any iota of records of corruption as his replacement come 2023. Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is a loyal man. His loyalty to the powers-that-be. And to APC as a party Is never in doubt. He has been there for them at different odd times.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is a detribalized Nigerian. With his intimidating pedigree, vibrancy, doggedness,  acceptability, impeccable character, crediblility, humble disposition,  He is the kind man NIGERIA as a country needs at a time like this.

Therefore, It's on this antecedence and precedence that we the members of Youths Initiative for Grassroots Development. YIGD. A political pressure group with formidable structures across the 774 LGAs of Nigeria wishes to call upon His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. To as a matter of urgency declare to contest for the position of President of Nigeria come 2023. Nigeria and Nigerians are in eager to vote him into office.

Signed:

• Mr. Vincent Ekuma.

National President of Youths Initiative for Grassroots Development. YIGD.

• Comrade, Nnaemeka Ajana.

National Publicity Secretary.