(DDM) – Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, has accused ex-Governor Yahaya Bello of betrayal after failing to keep a succession promise.
DDM gathered that Onoja, who served as Bello’s close political ally, revealed during an interview with Channels Television that the former governor had assured him of becoming his successor.
According to him, the promise was made in 2019, four years before the 2023 Kogi governorship election.
Onoja explained that Bello personally called him aside and declared that he would be the next governor once his tenure ended.
He recalled Bello’s exact words as, “You will succeed me. Get prepared.”
Onoja said he built his political expectations and loyalty around that pledge, only to be stunned by Bello’s eventual decision.
He narrated that instead of honouring the promise, Bello chose Usman Ododo, a former Auditor-General for Local Governments, as his successor.
Onoja described the decision as both shocking and disappointing, stressing that a leader’s word should carry integrity.
He added that when a friend makes a vow, one expects him to remain bound by it, regardless of political pressures.
The former deputy governor expressed frustration at what he saw as Bello’s disregard for trust and loyalty.
He claimed the episode highlighted how political alliances in Nigeria are often shaped more by convenience than by honour.
Onoja said he had stood firmly by Bello throughout his administration, expecting that loyalty to be rewarded.
He lamented that despite years of partnership, Bello abandoned him at the most crucial point of his political career.
Political observers say Onoja’s comments reflect a broader trend in Nigerian politics where succession promises are often broken.
They argue that personal ambition, godfatherism, and ethnic balancing frequently outweigh loyalty and earlier agreements.
Onoja’s political journey began as Chief of Staff to Bello in January 2016, a role he held until October 2019.
That same year, he was elevated to the office of Deputy Governor, a position he held until 2024.
During his time in government, Onoja was regarded as Bello’s right-hand man, often seen as the de facto number two in Kogi politics.
His exclusion from Bello’s succession plan therefore came as a surprise to many within the state’s political circles.
Analysts believe his revelations could further expose divisions within the ruling party in Kogi.
Some argue that his disappointment may push him to seek alternative political alliances ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Others suggest that Bello’s choice of Ododo was driven by political strategy rather than betrayal, aimed at consolidating control.
For Onoja, however, the matter remains deeply personal, centred on a promise between friends that was broken.
He insisted that leaders must learn that political survival should not come at the expense of personal trust and credibility.