Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, has broken his silence on the political events that led to the emergence of Ahmed Usman Ododo as the successor to ex-Governor Yahaya Bello, a role Onoja once believed he was being prepared for.
Speaking on the Mic On Podcast, Onoja shared insights into the internal succession battle that played out within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State.
According to him, Yahaya Bello had personally told him to prepare for leadership and gave him assurances about succeeding him.
“For four years before 2023, he was the one who called me and said, ‘You will succeed me; get prepared,’” Onoja recalled.
“And, of course, I planned and I worked, and when it was time, he gave all of us the opportunity to contest.”
Onoja said about seven APC members eventually picked up nomination forms to run for the party’s governorship ticket. However, it became clear that Bello had made his choice.
“At the end of the day, his heart and his choice were with the current governor, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,” he stated.
Onoja also detailed the moment Bello broke the news to him and what he said in response.
“When he broke the news to me, I told him, ‘You are the boss; you are over me; what you see is what I see. I hope you are not making a mistake.’”
He went on to share some of the reasons Bello allegedly gave for not supporting his candidacy.
“He said my capacity was too much, and I don’t know what that meant,” Onoja said.
“Secondly, he said my people of Kogi East did not really like me because I supported a non-Igala, but that was the perception.”
Despite feeling disappointed and blindsided, Onoja said he accepted the situation and threw his weight behind the party’s eventual candidate.
“It was shocking and disappointing because when a friend gives you his word, you expect that he should live by it. But humans are humans, so we have moved on.”
“I did commit to him that I would work for our party and our candidate, and I did. He (Ododo) is there today serving.”
