News Editor
By David Odama
The family of Sir Rex Onyeabo, a former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has announced his passing at the age of 80.
In a statement released on Thursday by his son, Dr. Obiora Onyeabo, the family said the PDP chieftain died peacefully on August 7.
The family’s statement read: “With heavy hearts but gratitude to God for a life well spent, the Onyeabo Family of Enugu State announces the passing of our Patriarch and Statesman, Chief (Sir) Rex Chuma Onyeabo (KSM).”
Recalled that that the elder statesman was a founding member of the PDP and served as its National Secretary in 1999 and on the party’s Board of Trustees until his death.
According to the statement, “Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course by the family.
Sir Onyeabo was an engineering alumnus of Carnegie Mellon University, USA, and held several chieftaincy titles, including: “Eze-Ugo 1 of Abuja Igbo Community, Onwa na-etili Ora 1 of Ugbawka, Ijele 1 na Akaegbe-Ugwu and Ada-Idaha of Efik Kingdom.”
He held numerous public service positions at both federal and state levels, including Deputy Chairman of the governing board of the Federal Capital Development Authority and Chairman of the governing councils for Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
He was also a permanent secretary in the Enugu State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. Onyeabo was a member of the Noble Order of Knights of St. Mulumba and was an active member of the Catholic communities in Abuja and Enugu.
