Loyalty can simply be defined as a romantic fantasy between master and servant. This definition describes the Kogi state deputy governor, Mr. Edward David Onoja, as one of the servants that is loyal to the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.
Onoja’s loyalty has been glaring given his antecedents as the deputy governor, and chief of staff, the post that is difficult for any governor to assign outside his zone. The governor did it with trust and Onoja served diligently. Onoja’s loyalty as chief of staff earned him the post of the deputy, following the impeachment of Simon Achuba in 2016.
As chief of staff to Kogi state governor, Onoja ensured the timely completion of most infrastructure projects. This was quite remarkable considering that Kogi east governed the state for 21 years without building a worship centre for Christians in the government house. But Governor Yahaya Bello built one because of his deputy and other Christians in his cabinet in the interest of fair play. The governor knew that Onoja is an asset for the state.
Having reposed such confidence in the deputy governor, it’s expected that Onoja will work for the victory of the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. Already, Onoja has appealed to the electorate to vote for the APC candidate in order to continue the Bello legacy, the first executive governor who ran an all-inclusive government, with a slogan of EBIGO.
In the course of this piece, I approached an Igalaman, who said what Onoja is doing Kogi state is akin to the antecedents of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu who hails from the South-west zone fought in defence of the mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12 presidential election, which was annulled by the General Ibrahim Babangida junta. Onoja is seriously fighting the marginalisation of his ward, local government and Christians by successive governments in the state.
Onoja has always been a winner, based on his previous role as a active student union activist. He was the first elected president of Natural Science Students Association (NASSA) University of Jos chapter from1998 -1999.
Given his commitment to the unity of the state, Onoja told supporters of the party to sale the candidate of Ododo to the electorate, so that they will be victorious in the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.
Bello and Onoja have demonstrated their commitment two politicians to infrastructure development and women and youth empowerment in the state, making them the best politicians of the century. Their future is bright in Nigeria’s political horizon.
Suleiman Raji Saidu,
Mando,
Kaduna state