Kogi Deputy Governor Edward Onoja Screened in Abuja in quest to succeed Yahaya Bello »

Says, ‘So Far, So Good, To God be the Glory’

Earlier today, Edward Onoja, the Deputy Governor of Kogi State faced the screening committee set up by the APC to scrutinize the technical and overall suitability of himself and other candidates contesting to succeed Governor Yahaya Bello in Kogi State.

Chief Onoja who was mobbed by his jubilant supporters and aides on stepping out took time to speak to our reporter. He was full of praises to God and when asked what his chances of passing the screening exercise were, he replied, ‘So Far, So Good. To God be the Glory!’ He also expressed gratitude to his boss for the directive to join the race, revealing that he would have refrained otherwise.

‘The committee was professional in its approach. I supplied them with originals of every document in my application and answered their questions with every sincerity at my disposal. No candidate should have any problem unless they present with fake or forged credentials. Such will not pass scrutiny. Those people are prepared.’

When prodded, he explained that he was running to extend the developmental legacies of Governor Yahaya Bello in Kogi State. ‘My boss has not only laid the foundation but he has commenced the construction of a superstructure for the accelerated and proportional development of Kogi State in all her constituencies which we must not allow to be truncated by the wrong successor.’

On his suitability to succeed his principal and whether he was the ‘right successor’, the Kogi Deputy noted that not only was he the most qualified candidate in credentials and knowledge of the New Direction Blueprint run by the incumbent but he is also a lifelong stakeholder to the same aspirations for Kogi State as Governor Bello.

‘I have no other ambition but to see the dreams we articulated for our state way before 2015 continue to unfold under the right leadership. Lagos has moved from next level to next level since our President-elect took Office because regardless of who is Governor, the Masterplan he left is followed.’

Onoja elaborated further, ‘I too want my principal in or out of office to see Kogi State succeeding phenomenally under his successors as it did during his time. Once I can achieve that, I am fulfilled because I was by his side when this New Direction Agenda was developed way before we joined politics.’

It will be recalled that the APC with the approval of the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the primaries for the 2023 Kogi State Gubernatorial Polls for 14 of April, 2023. On that day, successful aspirants will rely on delegates to decide who will fly their party’s flag in November.