Minister Of Science And Technology, Dr. Onu Declares For APC Presidential Ticket

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, on Friday in Abuja, formally joined the race of the array of presidential aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dr. Onu, former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) declared for the presidential ticket of the APC before a gathering of supporters, party faithful and some political groups in Abuja during which he assured that if elected, the country will become a nation that every Nigerians will be proud of.

Onu has also increased the number of Ministers in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration that have formerly joined the race for the presidential ticket of the APC. Others include the Ministers of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, his counterpart in the Ministry of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemwka Nwajiuba.

Reading from a prepared text, Dr. Onu, said that he is a man of integrity and compassion, thus urged members of his political party, the APC, particularly delegates the national convention of the party to elect him as their presidential flag bearer.

In his word; “I am convinced that I have the knowledge, the experience, the credibility, the education having been trained in one of the best universities in the world, the vision, the integrity, maturity and a man who can be trusted.

“I most respectfully ask my political party, the APC, to elect me as its presidential candidate, and the people of Nigeria to elect me as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for me to be the chief servant of the nation,” he pleaded.

“Nigeria must become self-reliant again. The nation can no longer continue to depend on other nations to solve its problems. Nigeria must be a producer nation. We must as a nation start thinking big because we are big”.

Onu, who was also former governor of old Abia State, said that under his administration medical treatment was free in hospitals while development was evenly provided across the state.

He further said; “As a man of great compassion, and also believing that women are great builders of nations, I did not want any pregnant woman or child to die either during pregnancy or child birth, which are the most challenging periods in any woman’s life, just because the woman cannot afford to pay hospital bills.

“Hence, all pregnant women received free treatment in public hospitals.

“I want all Nigerians, particularly the youth to know that Nigeria has a bright future. Let there be nothing that can make any Nigerian lose hope about the future of Nigeria.

“The Almighty God that created us, gave our dear nation, everything that she needs to be a leader in the world. Working together, we will make use of knowledge economy driven by STI to make Nigeria truly great.

“My fellow Nigerians, we have the key to unlock the prosperity of our dear nation, and this key is a knowledge economy driven by science, technology, and innovation. This is so because no nation has ever become truly great, whether in ancient or modern times, without the efficient and effective deployment of science, technology, and innovation to nation building,” he enthused.