Dr. Edward Onoja; An Effective Team Player »

By Solace Omolaiye

What defines a great leader? Is it the ability to listen to others, to motivate, to overcome challenges? Who do you respect more, the captain of a ship who tells her team to row harder while she watches, or the captain that motivates by rowing with them?

Great leaders can achieve balance between interacting and guiding a team while still maintaining authority.
They do this by being motivators, and by setting an example. They show their team what can be accomplished when everyone works together.

A good team leader encourages and supports others. They lead by example and ask for input when necessary. They are people the team trusts to ask for help when they need it.

The above questions and assertions came to my mind few days ago and it was not hard to find someone who fit perfectly to the positive response to them; Dr Edward Onoja, the current deputy governor of Kogi state is a perfect example of a team player who has worked to build teamwork for synergy, better quality, and improved efficiency. He encourages a sense of unity within the team, which in turn keeps the workplace motivated.

As DG, Alh Yahaya Bello campaign council in 2015/16 and then in 2019, he showed a qualitative team playing spirit that united a few, more or less seen as political amateur against political giants and played his role well as a superb team player, the victory of AYB becoming GYB was so astonishing that the whole nation discussed it till date. Not surprising, on inauguration day and while Gov Yahaya Bello was on the pondium, he emphatically without mincing words stated that “My core team especially the progressive Youths of Kogi state led by my right hand man Edward Onoja, their doggedness and forthrightness brought to me in a personal way…….”

In another occasion, Gov Yahaya Bello stated unequivocally the loyalty and team player attribute of Dr CEDO when he said “Ever since I came on board, my brother Edward David Onoja, His Excellency the deputy governor has been a pillar, a support to myself before and as we are in office today…..”

This is a testimony of the role played by Dr Edward Onoja as the midfielder of the new direction team, coordinating, motivating and strategising to make sure the team comes out victorious.

As chief of staff, we saw the synergy within all appointees and the pace at which everyone moved and brought results from their various ministries, department and community to complement the effort of the governor. With the state team, he raised an army of small ward governors who contributed immensely to the development of their community.
As deputy governor, he is adjudged the most relevant, dedicated, popular deputy governor in Nigeria as he was always up and doing representing his boss in high class meetings to the advantage of the government he serves when his boss is quite not dispose to attend such. While his boss Gov Yahaya Bello was on national assignments and pursuit, the state machinery continues to grind as there was no situation that the pragmatic Deputy Governor wasn’t on ground to handle.

He remains the most accessible deputy governor whose lines were open to all, day and night and not only attending to every Kogites but motivating lots more to succeed in their various endeavors. His close aides are made of great youths from the three Senatorial district whom he has mentored to become great leaders.

Towards February 2023 general election, His Excellency was out galvanising stakeholders meetings, rallies and selling all APC candidates to the electorates at the grassroots with hope of making all his party team mates flying the flag win from Top to bottom. Yes, as Kogi East political leader, he delivered all for his party APC.

He has always attributed his quality team playing character to his boss and team leader, Gov Yahaya Bello who lay the ladder for all team members to participate fully and motivate them to accomplish great results in their given space of assignment. No wonder each and everyone one of them have recorded tremendous achievements in their capacity and here we are having them to do more.