What I told Yahaya Bello after realising he chose Ododo over me – Onaja

What I told Yahaya Bello after realising he chose Ododo over me – Onaja

Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, has opened up on the succession battle in the administration under which he once served as Chief of Staff.

Speaking on the Mic on Podcast, Onoja said he took serious interest in governing Kogi after Bello told him to prepare for the position.

He said about seven members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) purchased the ruling party’s nomination after the former governor instructed them to.

“For four years before 2023, he was the one who called me and said, ‘You will succeed me; get prepared.’ And, of course, I planned and I worked, and when it was time, he gave all of us the opportunity to contest.”

“At the end of the day, his heart and his choice were with the current governor, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.

“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.”

Onoja also revealed what Bello told him privately over the decision to shift support from him.

“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.”

Onoja, who admitted that it was painful to accept his fate, claimed to have worked for Ododo’s victory.

“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,” he said.