Former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani has expressed his condolences following the passing of Ogbonaya Onu, a prominent political figure and former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election.

Sani reflected on Onu's political journey, noting that he could have potentially become Nigeria's President in 1999.

He highlighted Onu's victory in the primaries of the All Peoples Party (APP) in Kaduna, attended by notable figures like the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Ojukwu.

However, Sani suggested that Onu was sidelined due to a late-night merger with the then Alliance for Democracy (AD), as the military favored Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae for the presidency.

Describing Onu as a distinguished and principled politician, Sani emphasized his significant contributions to Nigerian politics over four decades.

He praised Onu's integrity and service to the nation, citing his tenure as a senator, governor, presidential candidate, party chairman, and minister. Sani hailed Onu as a symbol of decency and nationalism, underscoring his unwavering commitment to the country's progress.

In 1999, amid the military's preference for power to shift to the South West, Onu, known for his simplicity, remained steadfast in his principles.

Even during his tenure as minister, he resided in a modest accommodation provided by his party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Sani concluded his tribute by extending prayers for Onu's soul to rest in peace.