For leadership, peerless Edward Onoja is first choice for APC ticket »

By Petra Akinti Onyegbule

The 2023 General Elections have come and gone. Whilst many are now left to deal with echoes and aftermaths of victories and losses therefrom, the next phase in the deepening of democratic accomplishment through citizens voice and electoral action heads to Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States. These shall be the theaters of focus for further electioneering momentum to decide on who governs each state in the first round of off cycle elections.

The process of campaign for an aspirant at the party level is as intense as the general campaign amongst different parties, if not even more so.

In the last couple of days, I have been conferring with my political leaders and members of my political family on a most critical latent position which I now reveal to a wider audience. While I have been campaigning on a smaller scale on WhatsApp, my well thought out decision is buoyed by a conviction hard to dismiss.

It’s always fireworks when I post about Chief Edward David Onoja on my WhatsApp status. The Deputy Governor of Kogi State is a very colorful character and as such, issues surrounding him always elicit divergent emotions. Its passionately for with some, but unrepentantly against for some others. It therefore never comes to me as a surprise that reactions to his aspiration come with vehement opposition or staunch support. It’s what his personality attracts. No half measures!

A few people have listed a litany of reasons why they weren’t or won’t support him. Everything boils down to interests. And that’s politics. As is the case in imperfect human relationships, my relationship with Chief Edward David Onoja has not been without its own measure of low moments, but I also have personal glorious testimonies FOR him, as should be. Above all, one thing has always been my defining factor in political determination: I always put personal feelings aside and prioritize the bigger picture. As far as the frame for this picture goes, His Excellency, Edward David Onoja fits the frame.

One of the qualities of Chief Onoja that has endured over the years is his ability to see beyond tribe and religion. This is most evident in his unflinching loyalty and support to his friend turned boss, Governor Yahaya Bello from the very beginning when the vision was nothing but a tall dream to their years. Their relationship has not come without stiff opposition from both tribes – a consequence of which we had the Enemuneme philosophy – used to justify continued support for GYB ahead of his second term bid and now being used in opposition of CEDO’s aspiration to becoming Kogi’s Numero Uno. A classic case of a double edged sword.

Chief Edward Onoja in my opinion does have an edge over most of his co-contenders for the APC ticket in the way he has strategically built his support base across the state right from the days of Kogi Youth Arise when he coordinated campaigns for the Rtd Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s election as President. This structure has been nurtured and evolved to a great extent for a time like this.

There have been a lot of innuendoes about where GYB, being the leader of the party in the state, will swing with the weight of his support. Innuendoes whispered so loudly I hear them very clearly here in Lagos all the way from Kogi State. Governor Bello has held his card bearing the name of his preferred choice of successor tightly to his chest and by so doing made this process more democratic and all the more interesting. I am sure that as far reaching as his support is, His Excellency is not unmindful of how even more difficult winning the elections would be with a less popular and more widely accepted candidate.

This is not yet a campaign for a Gubernatorial Candidate. This is stating publicly where I stand in the forthcoming Primary Election in Kogi State. Whoever clinches the APC ticket come April 14 shall naturally become my candidate and in that time we will campaign on pedigree and antecedents to the wider Kogi populace.

For now, the campaign is for the Kogi APC family. And I hope Delegates or members as the case may be depending on the form of Primary Election adopted, will see why the competence, courage, capacity, charisma and confidence of our deputy governor stands him shoulders above every other contestant to fly the APC flag come November when we go to the Polls.

It’s safe to say for now…let’s get this Kogi project started!