Kogi’s Bello/Onoja Ticket; The divine Masterstroke? -By Abdullahi O. Haruna

Although the Constitution of the Federal Republic clearly spells out what the functions and duties of a deputy governor are, the reality in our clime is that the functionality or otherwise of the office exists at the pleasure of the Governor.

Experience has shown over the years that the only time there’s harmony in the workings of the state executive arm of government is when the deputy governor shows maximum loyalty to the governor while the latter also reciprocates the gesture by ‘carrying his deputy along.’

At the risk of being immodest, there is no politician within the fold of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State in the last four years who has demonstrated more loyalty to the Governor than his dependable, reliable and proactive Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja. Anyway, those who are privy to the duo know that their friendship predates their foray into politics.

Therefore, in picking Onoja as his deputy governorship candidate ahead of the November 16 gubernatorial election in the Confluence State, Governor Yahaya Bello, being the political tactician that he is, has removed the possibility of any landmine that may explode in the future. Whatever may have happened between the governor and his deputy for the past few months must have also informed the decision which triggered his latest strategic choice. They say once bitten, twice shy.

But, even beyond the friendship between Bello and Onoja, it is empirically evident that for the close to four years of the providential Bello-led administration in the state, the Governor, never before seen in the annals of the state, has been able to bring all ethnic groups in the state together for the common purpose of moving the state forward on the ladder of inclusive growth and development.

Till eternity, it will continue to be a reference point that Bello is the first Governor of the state to appoint his Chief of Staff from another tribe other than his regardless of the pressure from his kinsmen. Based on the appointment, the three major ethnic groups of Igala, Ebira and Okun and others in the state share equal opportunity in the governance of the state.

From the construction of the largest Rice Mill in North Central Nigeria at Ejiba in Yagba West local government area of the state to the rehabilitation of several road projects in the East and Central senatorial districts of the state, again, no administration has demonstrated equity, justice, and fairness like the Bello’s in terms of distribution of infrastructural projects across the state.

Being an utterly religious state, the Governor has consistently been releasing monthly subvention to the two major religious bodies: Islam and Christianity in the state. Bello as a Muslim has constructed a number of Christian worship centres across the state, notably; the Government House Chapel under construction. Since the creation of Kogi State 28 years ago, there has been worship place for the Muslim faithful but none for the Christians within the Government House. 4 civilian governors have since governed the state but only Bello thought it wise to bequeath to the Christians a place of worship in the Government House which has further deepened religious harmony in the state.

Toeing the path of his boss, Onoja,an Igala Christian, has done fundraising appeal and has built not less than three Mosques across Igala land, most prominent is the Okpo Central Mosque which was built and commissioned for the Muslim faithful in the community to have a place to worship which was hitherto non-existent. The covalent collaboration between the Governor and Onoja has seen them render humanitarian services to the people of the state, improved health care services in the rural areas and created empowerment for many less-privileged Kogites who hitherto had no hope of survival. Theirs is an administration with eyes that see well, ears that listen and assimilate the people’s problems with a view to solving them and a mouth full of human kindness.

All thanks to Governor Bello, governance has been so demystified to the extent that the son of a nobody but who is competent and capacious can easily be given a political appointment just as someone who’s privileged, too. The word is competence. Your background is no factor for consideration in political appointments. The administration believes in the capacity to deliver, commitment to serve irrespective of where one comes from or religion one practices.

Just as the Governor has opened up the governance space to persons with zero connections to be given political appointments, youth inclusiveness in government is a top priority of the administration. On the average, the current Kogi State Executive Council may arguably be the youngest in the country.

As it has been carefully observed from a close quarter, Edward Onoja is someone who knows and can accurately read the mind of the Governor at every moment. He has consistently shown that in the last few years as his Chief of Staff by acting as the clearing house for the Governor while also helping him to absorb pressure that otherwise could weigh down the Governor.

Having Onoja as his deputy for the next four years, God’s willing, other things being equal, will further consolidate on what they have been able to achieve so far, aside promoting interethnic cooperation and deepening religious tolerance in the state. For Bello to succeed in his Next Level agenda, he needs a loyal and competent lieutenant. And that he got correctly by picking Onoja.