Kogiflame
The reconciliatory visit recently by former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward Onoja to his predecessor, Elder Simon Achuba has been described as a welcome development.
In a statement by former Director-general, Kogi State Bureau of Information and Grassroots Sensitisation, Mr. Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, that gesture was a humble display from a younger brother, who believed he might have irked his elder deliberately or otherwise, but was poised to bell the cat.
Asking for a renewed positive relationship the way he has just done, is a submission to the African culture flushed with the fear of God.
Abdulmalik noted that Achuba’s embrace of Onoja was also a comely display of an elder statesman’s response to the quest for peace and promotion of healthy political environment in the state.
Onoja’s visit to Achuba’s Abuja home, is one that would attract public discourse considering the circumstances in which Achuba was removed from office.
Although Onoja, took time to discountenance the insinuation that hitherto made the round that he was instrumental to the impeachment of Achuba, the kernel of the visit remained his high respect for Achuba, who he described as his ‘elder brother’.
According to him, “the visit is a demonstration of his high regards and respect for him,” noting that Achuba is a respected political strategist and one with a lot of love for the growth and development of the state.
According to him, while Achuba served as Deputy Governor, he had always stood for truth and had always insisted on things that would promote good governance and bring about unity, peace and growth of the state.
Onoja, who reiterated his commitment to the greater good of the state and its people, added that he would henceforth, devote his time, energy and resources to work with people of like minds to advance the cause of unity, peace and development of the state.
While remarking that his visit was a brotherly one, he maintained that it was far from being a political visit.
“We have only rubbed minds as brothers, ironed out perceived or misconceived differences and tried to discuss what we can contribute to the development of our state as stakeholders”, he said.
Onoja and Achuba hail from the same senatorial district and it would be recalled that upon Achuba’s impeachment, Onoja that was hitherto the Chief of Staff to Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello, was picked as Achuba’s successor.
The reconciliation of the two politicians should be seen as a challenge to others to eschew political hostility, come together and work for for the growth and progress of the state and Nigeria at large.
