Chief Onoja fulfills promise, builds house for parents of slain boss, late Victoria Ejura »

It was an air of emotions and excitement as Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief (Dr.) Edward Onoja, on behalf of Governor Yahaya Bello, handed over a house to the parents of his deceased colleague, friend, and mentor, Late Mrs. Victoria Ejura Omagbogu at her country home of Odu Ikaka, Dekina LGA, in fulfillment of an earlier promise made to them.

He was represented at the dedication and handing over ceremony by his wife, Mrs. Mercy Ejura Onoja, who conveyed the tributes of the Kogi State Government for the deceased, excerpted by Chief Onoja as a virtuous woman who, until her death, lived an exemplary life of sheer contentment, mentorship, and sacrifice.

Recalling that his paths with Late Victoria crossed in 2001 at Jos, Plateau State, he narrated that she was supportive of him through learning the ropes of his job description as an Executive Trainee Banker, whilst showing genuine concern for his personal and professional welfare.

“It was while in Kogi as Head of Operations in January 2008 having moved first from Jos to Makurdi in 2003 and to Lokoja branch in 2005 that I received the shocking news of her death, brutally assassinated in front of her house in Jos by unidentified assailants. This woman was murdered in her prime and innocence; a woman that could not hurt a fly met the cruelest death in the hands of dare-devil killers. They killed her for no reason thus exterminating the dream of a woman who had given her all to the expectations of life. One thing they failed to do however was to kill her memory. They murdered her body, but certainly not her soul. We are here today in memory of that beautiful soul which could never be dimmed by the worst malice of life.

“That 2008 the lot fell on me to join the Guaranty Trust Bank team led by our Regional Head, Madam Tayo, and Mr. John Iyaji, another Igala man, that bade her farewell at Odu Ikaka, Dekina, her hometown where she was buried. May her soul forever rest in peace,” he prayed.

Chief Onoja expressed optimism that if the tables are turned today, the Late Victoria wouldn’t hesitate to extend similar hands of support to his family which is why during the dedication of his mother’s house on November 6, 2020, he felt a stroke of desire to build a house for her parents. He towed down memory lane to remarks credited to an APC stalwart that his wife, Mrs. Mercy Ejura Onoja wouldn’t vote for him in the 2019 gubernatorial elections in the State, among other tribal and religious sentiments that defined the process.

“On election day, right in front of her kinsmen in Egume, and just after voting for APC with her supporters, four heavily armed assassins wielding AK47 rifles came for her life. We give God the Glory that she is alive today to hand over this house as a testimony that God cannot lie. I give God the glory for sparing my wife’s life and I make bold to say that nobody’s life is worth losing on the account of any political aspirations. I repeat, the quest to serve the people should not in any way call for bloodletting.

He continued: “As the Number 2 man in Kogi State, I am happy that the security of lives and properties in our dear Kogi State continues to improve with each passing day under the overnight of my boss. Today we are ranked the safest state in the federation because, among other things, His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello takes his duty as the Chief Security Officer of this State to be his principal and primary job as Governor.

“I can assure our people that he is not relenting and that we will continue to improve security for you all. Let me also say that a man who has cracked the success code for Security of lives and properties, Unity in massive diversity, and Peace (cooperation and integration) which are the 3 major problems of Nigeria is the man that shall lead Nigeria to greatness. 2023 is a date, by the grace of Almighty God!

“Today, this building marks about the 18th structure that God has helped me to facilitate for communities, individuals, and religious bodies as the case may be. These efforts are of course heavily supported round by my boss, friend, and brother, His Excellency Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, my other friends and associates within and outside the state. I want to believe that come January 2022, God sparing our lives, I will be finally dedicating my personal home in my village along with 2 other buildings. This goes to say that always, God leads you to a position so that you can make the most impact you can to your world and humanity.

“My late sister Victoria Ejura Omabogwu left four lovely children; a lady who is in her final year reading law in the university and three younger brothers and her beloved Father Barrister Omabogu. I will be placing Favor Omagbogu, the daughter on a N500,000 scholarship for her law school when the time comes, and the other brothers on another N500,000 to be collectively disbursed as at when needed, ” he said.

Concluding that he was deeply fulfilled by the gesture, Chief Onoja encouraged Kogites, irrespective of political, religious, or cultural leanings to lead lives that glorifies peaceful coexistence, respect, communal and sacrificial living.

On his part, the emotional Mr. Simon Musa, father of the Late Victoria appreciated the Deputy Governor for his show of concern to the family, describing him as one who stands firmly to the tenets of loyalty to friendship even in death. He prayed for divine blessings bestowed on Chief Onoja and his family, asking God to grant him favors to continually do more for his friends and family.