Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the newly sworn-in Minister of Science and Technology, said on Wednesday in Abuja that he would strive to be the best minister in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.
Onu, who spoke on Wednesday night at a reception organised in his honour by Concerned Ebonyi State Indigenes, pledged that he would work assiduously to emerge as the best minister the country ever produced.
“One assurance that I will always give you and I have said it repeatedly, is that as your son, I will never do something that you will be ashamed of.
“It is better for me to leave politics than for me to do something for my own selfish interest that will make you to be ashamed of your son.
“I will continue to act in a way that Nigerians will know that Ebonyi State is truly the Salt of the Nation.
“I want to assure you that I will make sure that I will be the best minister Nigeria ever had,” he stated.
The former governor of old Abia, stressed that no nation had ever attained greatness without science and technology.
“I want you to go home with these words: no nation from the beginning of time has ever become great without embracing science and technology.
“The U.S. is the greatest power in the world; the largest economy, the strongest military and the U.S. has the highest diplomatic potential that she has used in the maintenance of peace all over the world.
“But the U.S. was able, is able and will continue to do so, so long as it is leading in science and technology,’’ the minister noted.
Onu said that Nigeria had the potential not just to be one of the 20 leading economies, but one of the 10 leading economies.
He added: “but we cannot do it without science and technology.’’
He recalled that about 23 years ago, he started the Technology Village Project in Abia which was disrupted as a result of military intervention.
“Science and technology will take Nigeria to a height unimagined today; we will do our best to be the instruments that Nigeria will use to get to that height. And I need your prayers; I need your support.’’
Dr Paul Okorie, a former Commissioner of Works in Ebonyi, said Buhari made the right choice in appointing Onu a minister.
He urged Onu to be a key player in Buhari’s desire to ensure uninterrupted power and reform of the electoral system.
The former commissioner stressed that the reform of the electoral system was very import as the people’s votes would count, leading to the emergence of truly elected leaders.
Chief Austine Edeze, a member of APC Board of Trustees, also commended the president for appointing Onu as a minister.
Edeze, who is also the spokesman for the organisers, said that Onu was a consistent politician and gave assurance that he would deliver.
“ We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for finding our son and leader worthy to serve at this period. We assure him that Onu is a man he can trust to deliver.’’
Mr Magnus Eze, National Coordinator, Ebonyi Professionals Forum, said Onu’s love to serve Nigeria had never been swayed by “bread and butter” politics.
“ Dr Onu is an embodiment of humility, resilience, integrity, discipline and wisdom – key qualities that will help Mr President, change Nigeria for the better,’’ he said.
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