Abia Govt Will Not Abandon Late Commissioner Onwuma’s Family – Gov. Otti Assures At Funeral

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has assured the family of the late Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Mr. Sunny Onwuma, that the State Government will not abandon them.

Governor Otti who gave the assurance during the funeral service of the Late Commissioner held on Friday, at Ihie-Obeaku Primary School, Ugwunagbo LGA, reaffirmed the State’s commitment to standing by them.

The Governor pledged continued support to the bereaved family, describing the late Onwuma as “a colleague, a brother, a friend, and a strong voice in the cabinet”.

“We thank God that he (Onwuma) left a lot of legacies. And the challenge now is for the family, the children, to carry on from where he stopped. I want to pray that God will help them.

“I also would like to assure them that the Abia State government will not turn its back on them” Gov. Otti stated.

Otti expressed deep sorrow over Onwuma’s untimely death on March 3, 2025, at the age of 62.

“When this journey started, I feared a day like this. We fought for him to live, but we lost that fight. I believe God had a different purpose,” the Governor said.

He acknowledged that Onwuma’s passing was a heavy blow to the administration and the people of Abia but maintained that he lived a life worthy of emulation.

“It’s not so much about how long one lives, but how well and we are all gathered here today because he lived his life well and left legacies”, the Governor stated.

While urging the family to be strong and uphold the legacies of their patriarch, Gov Otti prayed for peace and protection over the family and the State.

He noted that “affliction shall not rise a second time“, and expressed hope that “on the resurrection morning, we shall meet again, to part no more“.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr. Ogbonnaya Okoro, described the deceased as a committed unionist and thanked the Governor for showing interest in their fallen colleague.

In his remarks, the First Vice President of the Old Boys Association of Government College Umuahia, Mr. Onyii Wamah, described Onwuma as a dedicated member and appreciated the governor’s support for the family, urging him to sustain it.

In his sermon, the Bishop of Aba Diocese, Anglican Communion, Dr. Christian Ugwuzor, emphasized the need for righteous living in preparation for the day of judgment.

He described Onwuma as a good man who supported the church and helped those in need.

Delivering a funeral oration, the first son of the deceased, Mr. Gooddestiny Onwuma, eulogized his father as a gentleman, a man of integrity, committed unionist, and devout Christian.

He thanked the state government and all sympathizers for standing by the family during their period of mourning.

The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, member representing Ugwunagbo, Osisioma and Obingwa Federal Constituency, Hon. Munachim Alozie, members of the Abia State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, Mayors, clergymen, traditional rulers among many dignitaries were present at the funeral.

Related