The primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State have been ongoing to choose a flag bearer for the party in the November governorship election.
The current Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been a subject of discussion regarding his choice of a successor as some of his allies, including the outgoing deputy governor of the state, Edward Onoja, withdrew from the contest for the favoured Usman Ododo, auditor-general of the local governments.
The White Lion of Kogi State
Yahaya Bello is the current Governor of Kogi State and is often referred to by his supporters as the White Lion. Bello has been known for his political prowess and the ability to crush any rebellion within his inner circle with subtility and power.
The Enduring Deputy Governor
Edward Onoja, the outgoing deputy governor of the state, had been nurturing the dream of succeeding Bello as the governor of Kogi State. However, he withdrew from the contest late on Thursday after years of planning. Despite being the ultimate political fixer for the government, Onoja was not favoured by Bello to succeed him.
The Potential Successors The two other potential successors within Bello’s inner circle were the Chief of Staff, Abdulkareem Asuku, and the Accountant General of the State, Jubril Momoh. However, Bello had other plans as he brought out his favoured successor, Usman Ododo, at the last minute to choke out any rebellion within his team.
The Power and Subtility of Bello
As a matter of fact, Governor Yahaya Bello has been described as a lion with stealth and power for his ability to move with subtility and crush any rebellion within his inner circle. He has been able to maintain his grip on power and ensure that his preferred candidate emerges as the flag bearer for the APC in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State.
Yahaya Bello Eye
Yahaya Bello’s political prowess has been on display in the ongoing primaries of the APC in Kogi State. His ability to move with subtility and power has ensured that his preferred candidate emerges as the flag bearer for the party in the forthcoming governorship election.
The Rise and Fall of the Kogi Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja
Edward Onoja, the former deputy governor of Kogi state, Nigeria, was once considered the engine room of the administration. However, his alleged fencing out of potential rivals and the removal of the erstwhile deputy governor, Simon Achuba, in circumstances that were far from altruistic, raised concerns about his political tactics. This article delves into the political saga of Edward Onoja, his fall from grace, and the political permutations in Kogi state.
Onoja’s Power Play:
Edward Onoja allegedly made his office the engine room of the administration, and rumours circulated that he fenced out potential rivals, notably from his Igala stock from the Bello administration.
The most notable victim was the erstwhile deputy governor of the state, Simon Achuba, who was removed from office in circumstances that were far from altruistic.
After the removal, Onoja took the office for himself.
Onoja’s Attempted Promotion:
Attempts were made to transfer the many functions of the chief of staff to the office of the deputy governor, which Onoja now occupied. However, Asuku, the new chief of staff, was said to have fought off the move, meaning that Onoja promoted himself to irrelevance.
Onoja’s Boredom:
As deputy governor, Onoja reportedly had little to do, with newspaper reading being his most regular activity in the office. To keep himself busy, he enrolled in school and remarkably took a post-graduate program in Conflict Resolution at the Federal University, Lokoja, three years ago.
Onoja’s Descent from Grace:
Above all, the decision by Governor Bello to back Ododo against the leading aspirants in the Kogi state gubernatorial primaries has shocked many, with only very few seeing it coming. For a man who wielded much power just a few years ago, Onoja’s exit from the game without a fight shows the political sagacity of Governor Bello.
Governor Bello’s Political Sagacity:
Governor Bello’s decision to back Ododo against the leading aspirants may have been the less contentious decision within the inner circle, but it opens the governor to the allegation of retaining power in his Kogi Central Senatorial zone. While some argue that zoning is not an issue in Kogi given the 16 straight years the governorship was held in Kogi East, the decision of the Kogi governor has only heightened the permutations for aspirants riding on the wave of power shift.
The political saga of Edward Onoja:
Finally His fall from grace and the political permutations in Kogi state highlights the inner workings of Nigerian politics. The outcome of the APC primaries and the PDP primaries will be a spectacle for many in the months ahead, and the political landscape in Kogi state may change dramatically.