Former Kogi State Deputy Governor Edward Onoja has accused ex-Governor Yahaya Bello of a dramatic last-minute betrayal in the state's 2023 governorship race, withdrawing long-standing assurances of succession and instead endorsing current Governor Usman Ododo.
Onoja, who served as Bello's Chief of Staff from 2016 to 2019 before ascending to the deputy governorship in 2019, detailed the fallout during a recent episode of the "Speaking on the Mic" podcast.
He recounted how, four years prior to the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, Bello personally urged him to prepare for the top job.
"For four years before 2023, he (Bello) was the one who called me and said, ‘You will succeed me, get prepared.’ And of course, I planned, I worked," Onoja shared, emphasizing the depth of his preparations based on that trust.
The sting came on the eve of the primaries, when Bello informed Onoja that his support had shifted decisively to Ododo, the state's then-Auditor-General.
"It was shocking and disappointing when he told me he had chosen Ododo, because when a friend gives you his word, you expect him to be bound by it," Onoja lamented.
To heighten the intrigue, Bello reportedly directed seven cabinet members—including Onoja—to purchase APC nomination forms, creating an illusion of an open contest, only to consolidate backing for Ododo at the eleventh hour.In private conversations, Bello justified the pivot with pointed criticisms, according to Onoja.
"He said my capacity was too much, and I don’t know what that meant. Secondly, he said my people of Kogi East did not really like me because I supported a non-Igala," the former deputy explained, referring to ethnic tensions in Kogi's diverse political landscape where Igala dominance in the East often fuels succession battles.
Bello also dangled the prospect of a federal role for Onoja, hinting at bigger opportunities beyond the statehouse.
Despite the heartbreak, Onoja portrayed himself as a loyal party soldier, vowing immediate allegiance to Ododo.
"When he broke the news to me a day before the primaries, I told him, ‘You are the boss, you are over me, what you see is what I see, so let’s go get the job done, but I hope you are not making a mistake,’" he recalled.
True to his word, Onoja campaigned vigorously for Ododo, contributing to the APC candidate's victory in the November 2023 election that saw Ododo succeed Bello.
Now a board member of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) under President Bola Tinubu's administration, Onoja reflected on the episode with a mix of forgiveness and caution.
"I believe I have (forgiven him), from my heart, I have... But humans are humans, so we have moved on," he said, reiterating the Christian values of reconciliation while admitting that "broken trust is difficult to restore."
He expressed no regrets for his service under Bello, crediting the experience with invaluable lessons in governance.
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