His Excellency Edward David Onoja is an household name in Kogi politics. A strategist, visionary and grassroots mobilizer whose touch of excellence cut across ethnic diversity in the country. His journey into political landscape spans over a decade starting from students leadership into active participation in politics since the creation of Kogi State. He was once the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and later became the Deputy Governor to his Principal.
Onoja is currently a Board member of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), the national Patron of Tinubu Renainssance Group and convener of project 360 Nigeria (The grass – root mandate). Haven travelled by road to thirty one out of the thirty six states of the federation, it will not be out of place to described him as personalty with deep knowledge about Nigeria society, it complexities and peculiarities.
In this exclusive interview, he bears his mind on Nigeria’s journey from independence, narrowing it down to burning issues in Kogi politics and useful suggestions to improve on the established achievements of every political administration since the creation of the State.
Excerpts;
Question
Nigeria has just celebrated her sixty fifth independence anniversary, how will you described the journey so far?
Response
Nigeria’s sixty five year journey since independence is a story of resilience. We have endured reforms, inflationary pressures, and security challenges, a civil war, yet we remain a nation determined to rise. What is required now is inclusive growth, jobs for our youth, stronger security, and credible institutions that translate national reforms into daily relief for citizens. Our task as leaders is to turn resilience into prosperity. At sixty five no doubt in human perception, such an individual with careful plans must have achieved his life’s goal and projecting towards fulfilment after retirement. So it is a nation that is expected to have excelled in managing her domestic needs and forging ahead to measure up to current realities of advanced technology in robotic engineers, artificial intelligence and space science.
Question
Kogi State of recent too, celebrated her thirty fourth anniversary, what is your take on that?
Response
Since its creation on August 27, 1991, Kogi has evolved as the Confluence State, strategically bordering ten states and holding immense potential in human capital and natural resources. The next chapter must deepen fiscal discipline, sustain investments in education and healthcare, and strengthen security. If these are pursued consistently, Kogi will emerge as a true regional powerhouse. The state no doubt is blessed with both human and natural resources. Infact to be candid, twenty eight out of the thirty two mineral resources in Nigeria is found in commercial quantities in Kogi State. I am impressed with the recent procurement of mining licences by the state government to partake in mining activities. I hope with such development, the internally generated revenue will be increased and the State will definitely be able to provide basic amenities, quality lives for all citizens as well as job opportunities for the teeming youths.
Question
Your recent move on reconciliation has raised peoples eyebrow with some speculating that you are eyeing the Senate. How true is that Sir?
Response
Reconciliation is not a political ambition, it is a civic and moral obligation for me as a lover of Christ. My recent efforts are to lower political temperature, improve collaboration, build bridges and foster unity among stakeholders. On the speculations about the Senate, let me be clear. I hold deep appreciation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who within one year after my service in Kogi appointed me twice, first as PCC Commissioner for FCT, and later as a Board Member representing North Central on the SEDC. My focus now is to justify that trust by working diligently for the President and supporting his Renewed Hope Agenda. Whatever politics may bring in the future is in God’s hands, but it is not my focus today.
Question
There was a publication on state performance index for the year 2025, will you agree with the ratings of Kogi State?
Response
Performance indices can be useful if their methodology is transparent and grounded in credible data. My benchmark however remains the live experiences of citizens, quality of healthcare, access to schools, credibility of budgets, and security of communities. Independent trackers like Budget’s subnational reviews have provided useful yardsticks, but true measurement lies in whether lives are tangibly improving. No doubt society is not meant to be static. There will always be room for development. The publication might not totality reflect the actual situations in the state,but as a progressive minded individual, I believed in society that can evolve and surpass previous achievements because there is always a room for improvement.
Question
Kogi has withnesed a waves of crimes in recent times, what are your suggestions to reduce it to bearest minimum?
Response
Kogi must adopt a layered security strategy. First, intelligence led joint operations with federal agencies. Second, structured community policing where local hunter networks are integrated under clear rules. Third, technology, hotlines, incident mapping, CCTV on critical corridors. Fourth, accelerated judicial processes for kidnap and armed robbery cases. Fifth, targeted youth empowerment in hotspots because unemployment fuels crime. These were approaches we deployed in the past and they remain relevant today.
And like they say “security is everybody’s business. We must be vigilant and help the security agencies to succeed.
Question
The ongoing Voter Registration. Sir what is your call to the people?
Response
My call to citizens is simple, register, update, or transfer your Permanent Voter Cards now. Democracy is only as strong as the people who participate in it. INEC’s online portal makes the process easier, confirm your status, locate your centre, and complete your pre registration before going for biometric capture. Good governance begins with active citizenship. I urge stakeholders to get active in the exercise and assist where necessary. Those with special needs must be carried along and assisted to fulfill their civic rights, the students who have just clocked eighteen in various schools and colleges must be encouraged too.
Question
Since you left office, there is this perception from the people that there is a gap between you and your former principal, Governor Yahaya Bello. How true is that?
Response
Cuts in..
There is no political rift as far as I’m concerned . Public office changes schedules and priorities but it does not erase respect for shared relationship. We surely will speak when duty requires and we collaborate when the interest of Kogi is at stake. I will not feed speculations beyond that. What matters is service to the people, not the noise of divisions. As I once said whether in marriage, business or politics the most important factor remains to never fail to protect trust.
Kogi East voted massively against your party (APC) in the last gubernatorial election. As a stakeholder, can the narrative be changed?
Response
The last election sent a clear message from Kogi East. To change the narrative, we must return to the basics, measurable delivery of projects like rural roads, primary healthcare centres, and functional schools, transparent budgeting, and consistent town hall style communication. When citizens feel included and see results, political trust and voting patterns shift organically. People must protect leader and masses relationship. Bottom line is to rebuild trust. In my capacity as a party man, I will continue to project the programs and policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ganer support for him. Irrespective of party affiliations, patriotic citizens must support their leaders whether they agree or not with his programs and policies.
Question
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo no doubt has spent one year in office, how will you rate his performance?
Response
From January 27, 2024 to January 27, 2025, Governor Ododo’s administration has focused on workers welfare and reducing states debt burden. My assessment is pragmatic, acknowledge the gains, but also call for tighter budget execution, stronger social protection, and more aggressive local job creation. At the end of the day, governance is judged not by speeches but by service delivered at the ward level. Detailed assessment will be best by midterm when he clocks 2 years in office. For now we can only pray and wish him wisdom to serve.
Question:
Political actors across boards are scheming and forming alliance ahead of 2027 elections. From your projection, what do you foresee?
Answer:
Coalition building is part of democracy. My position remains that performance outshines permutations. If the APC continues to deliver on security, macroeconomic stability, and tangible community level projects with transparency, and massive legacy infrastructure, alliances by the opposition will matter less. Nigerians are increasingly interested in results, not just rhetoric. Our duty as a ruling party is to focus on governance, not on gossip. Winning elections is not for who shouts the loudest but who walk the talk for the people to see, feel and live.
Question:
Kogi of recent, the transport sector has been recording casualties in both land and waterways, what are your suggestions to curb the ugly situations?
Answer:
So first we must commiserate with the families of all those whose lives were lost due to that unfortunate boat accident in Ibaji on their way trying to earn a living. We pray that their souls rest in peace with the Lord Almighty,
I also will encourage the management, the handlers of that means of transportation to set some sort of rules for basic safety procedure and transportation, that is to make sure all passengers be on their life jackets. For vehicles on the road, once you’re in the car, you fasten your seat belt, in the aircraft, its same thing as fastening your seatbelt and seating up right for every means of transportation.
I would advise as a matter of urgency, especially for local government areas that are within the river rine region in kogi state like ibaji, Bassa, Idah, in Kogi East, Lokoja, Kogi Koto in Kogi West local government must lay down guidelines and safety procedures. There is nothing that should be more important than ensuring they wear their life jackets. They should commit funds into providing those life jackets as big supports because the value of one life can not be measured in naira. That’s my advice. It’s really sad. Same goes for the road accidents that have taken the lives of innocent students along Felele. Especially by large haulage trucks. It’s time for a safety assessment audit with practicable solutions to mitigate those accidents .
