President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness on the passing of retired Brig.-Gen. Dominic Oneya, saying Nigeria will never forget his excellent leadership as a military commander and sports administrator.
Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement said the president made his feelings known in a condolence message released on Friday in Abuja.
The President said “Nigeria mourns at the unfortunate demise of General Oneya, former Military Governor of Benue and Kano States.
“We remember his outstanding services to the nation through his career in the army and his one-time presidency of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF. May the Almighty repose his soul.”
He extended the nation’s condolences to the family of the deceased general, the Agbarho community in Ughelli North and people of Delta over the irreparable loss.
Oneya, a forthright man - Ikpea
The Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) on Friday also expressed sadness over the death
Rev. Samuel Ikpea, the Chairman of NFSC, in a statement in Lagos described Oneya as “an administrator” who served his country meritoriously.
“He was a forthright man, an administrator of uncommon excellence, who put his all into the affairs of the sports industry.
“Oneya is going to be missed by Nigerians no doubt, but we have faith in our creator that he will rest in the bosom of his creator as a good son of Delta State,’’ Ikpea said.
He prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and comfort the family.
Oneya presided over NFF from 1999 to 2002. He was succeeded by Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima.
Oneya also headed the Ministerial Committee on Reforms in Nigerian Football and served in various Confederation of African Football (CAF) committees.
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Oneya brought development to Kano - Ganudje
Speaking about the late military officer, sports administrator and philanthropist, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State - who served as a commissioner under Oneya - said Oneya contributed immensely in the development of the state during the period when he served as the military administrator of the state.
He was the Military Governor of Kano State from August, 1996 to August, 1998, and Military Administrator of Benue from August, 1998 to May, 1999.
“When he was the Military Administrator of our dear state, Kano, Col. Oneya brought developments. He did his best in moving the state forward.
“He was a focused leader who knew what our people needed for the development of the state then.
“As the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport under him, I knew how patriotic he was. We really lost a patriotic citizen,” Ganduje said.
The governor urged the family of the deceased to always look up to the good attitude of their father.
He said that Kano state had continued to reap from the solid foundation of the late administrator, saying he set good things for the state which were copied later by other administrations.
He prayed to God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss and grant the deceased eternal rest.
