Otti Mourns as Onwuma, Fmr Abia Labour Commissioner is Laid to Rest

The remains of late Comrade Sunny Onwuma, the former Commissioner for Labour and Productivity in Abia State, has been laid to rest in his hometown, Ihie Obeaku in Isiala Ihie Autonomous Community, Ugwunagbo Local Government Area in Abia.

Speaking at the funeral service held at  Ihie-Obeaku Primary School on Friday, Governor Alex Otti described the late Onwuma as “a colleague, a brother, a friend, and a strong voice in the cabinet.”

Otti expressed deep sorrow over his ‘untimely’ death at the age of 62, describing it a heavy blow to the administration and the people of Abia.

“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,” he said.

The Governor pointed out that the late Onwuma 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,” he said.

Otti emphasised that the difficulty of accepting the loss of a loved one could be very overwhelming, but urged the family to be strong and preserve the legacies of their patriarch.

He assured the Onwuma family of the state’s continued support, pledging that the government would not abandon them.

In his speech, the State Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, said that the deceased was committed to unionism in the state.

Okoro urged the family of the deceased to sustain the legacies of their father and thanked the governor for his interest in their fallen colleague.

In his remark, the First Vice President of Government College Umuahia Old Boys’ Association, GCUOBA, Sir. Onyii Wamah, described the deceased as a dedicated member who served the association in many capabilities with dedication. 

Wamah thanked the governor for supporting the family of the deceased and urged him to sustain it.

In his sermon, the Bishop of Aba Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Dr Christian Ugwuzor, stressed on the need for all to be upright as a day of judgement is coming, when Christ shall reward everyone according to his works.

Ugwuzor described the late Onwuma as a very good man, who contributed to the growth of the church and was ready to assist people in need. 

He challenged everybody to live a life worthy of emulation, so that they would be remembered for good. 

In a funeral oration, the First son of the deceased, Mr Gooddestiny Onwuma described his father as a gentleman, a man of integrity, unionist and a devout christian. 

Onwuma thanked the State Government and everyone for coming to identify with them in their moment of grief.

Late Sunny Onwuma, a former TUC Chairman in Abia State, died on March 3, 2025 at 62 years

(NAN)