“For Four Years, Bello Told Me I Would Succeed Him, Then Backed Ododo — Former Deputy Governor Onoja

Edward Onoja, former deputy governor of Kogi State, has revealed that ex-governor Yahaya Bello repeatedly assured him he would succeed him in office, only to later throw his support behind the current governor, Usman Ododo.

Speaking on *The Mic on Podcast* on Saturday, Onoja said Bello personally encouraged him for four years to prepare for the governorship seat, prompting him to plan his political future around the promise. He recalled that seven aspirants, including himself, purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination forms at Bello’s urging, only for the former governor to shift his backing to Ododo.

“For four years before 2023, he was the one who called me and said, ‘You will succeed me; get prepared,’” Onoja said. “I planned, 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.”

Onoja added that Bello later explained his reasons privately, including concerns that his “capacity was too much” and that he lacked sufficient grassroots support in Kogi East due to his political alliances. Bello, he said, also hinted that he could be considered for roles at the federal level instead.

Asked if he resisted the decision, Onoja said he chose to accept it as the will of God. “He was the boss; I felt it was not God’s time — maybe there is something bigger ahead,” he said. Still, he admitted it was painful, given the years of assurance.

“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,” Onoja stated.

Despite his disappointment, the former deputy governor said he remained committed to the APC and worked for Ododo’s election. “I did commit to him that I would work for our party and our candidate, and I did. He is there today serving,” he noted.

Onoja, who previously served as Bello’s chief of staff before becoming deputy governor in 2019, now sits on the board of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) as the North-Central representative.