Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward David Onoja, has revealed that his former principal, Governor Yahaya Bello, reneged on his promise to make him his successor, telling him instead that his capacity was “bigger than being a governor.”
Onoja made the disclosure during an interview on the MIC On Podcast aired Saturday night, recounting how Bello privately informed him that he would support another candidate despite earlier assurances to the contrary.
“He called me privately and said, ‘Let’s send somebody else, one of us,’” Onoja said. “He gave several reasons. Surprisingly, he said my capacity was too much—I’m not sure what that meant. Secondly, he said my people of Kogi East did not really like me because I supported a non-Igala, referring to Bello. But that was his perception; I believe my people love me. Finally, he said there could be other roles for me to serve alongside him at the federal level.”
When asked if he challenged Bello’s decision, Onoja said he accepted it without resistance, believing his time to become governor had not yet come.
“He was the boss,” Onoja said. “I felt it was not God’s time; maybe there is something bigger ahead.”
Onoja described the experience as painful, given Bello’s repeated assurances that he would hand over power to him.
“It was shocking and disappointing because when a friend gives you his word, you expect him to live by it. But humans are human,” Onoja reflected. “We have moved on. I committed to working for our party and our candidate, and I did. And now, Governor Ododo is serving.”
