Achuba, Onoja Reconcile After Years of Political Rift in Kogi

In what many have described as a historic moment in Kogi politics, former Deputy Governor Simon Achuba and his successor, Edward Onoja, have reconciled after years of political hostility that began during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.

The two estranged politicians, once close allies in the corridors of power, were torn apart in 2019 following Achuba’s controversial impeachment by the Kogi State House of Assembly — a move widely perceived as politically motivated. Although a judicial panel cleared Achuba of any wrongdoing, his removal paved the way for Onoja, then Chief of Staff, to assume the office of Deputy Governor.

The development had long fueled speculation that Onoja played a role in Achuba’s downfall, a burden of suspicion he carried throughout his years in office.

However, in a dramatic turn of events in Abuja, Onoja visited Achuba in his residence, seeking forgiveness and laying to rest years of political enmity.

Describing the meeting, Onoja said it was “a sacred moment of reuniting, of opening our hearts to forgiveness, and of reaffirming our joint commitment to the greatness of our beloved state and Igala land.” He also denied having orchestrated Achuba’s impeachment, insisting his conscience was clear.

Achuba, in the spirit of reconciliation, welcomed his former rival and extended forgiveness, marking an end to one of the most turbulent chapters in recent Kogi political history.

Observers say the reconciliation goes beyond personal healing, offering lessons for Nigerian politics at large. Political watchers note that while the tenure of former Governor Yahaya Bello — once seen as the binding force in the relationship — has ended, what endures is the ability of former rivals to rise above bitterness.

“The Achuba-Onoja reconciliation is a reminder that power is fleeting, betrayal is bitter, but reconciliation remains the ultimate grace,” said a political analyst in Lokoja.

For many in Kogi East and across the state, the reunion is not just about two men but about healing divisions within Igala land and promoting unity in the larger Nigerian polity.