The immediate past Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja and his predecessor, Simon Achuba on Friday reunited after years of unattended grudges.
Achuba was the Deputy Governor of the state in the first tenure of Yahaya Bello, and was later ousted from the government after his relationship soured with Bello.
Following his impeachment, Bello replaced Achuba with Onoja who was then his Chief of Staff.
In a bold move to reconcile with his kinsman, Onoja shared on Facebook he sought the forgiveness of his predecessor and reunited.
He wrote: “Today, I had the privilege of paying a courtesy visit to my elder brother and leader, His Excellency, Elder Simon Achuba, at his residence in Abuja. It was more than a meeting; it was a sacred moment of reuniting, of opening our hearts to forgiveness, of deep introspection about our shared journey in the service of Kogi State, and of reaffirming our joint commitment to the greatness of our beloved state and Igala land.
“For long, certain misconceptions have lingered, suggesting I orchestrated his impeachment to take his office. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Today, with humility, I cleared that misinformation before him and sought his forgiveness in any way I may have hurt him, knowingly or unknowingly. True leadership is not in holding grudges, but in building bridges, healing wounds, and moving forward with a spirit of love and unity.
“I am deeply grateful for Elder Achuba’s large heart, wise counsel, and warm hospitality. Our conversation renewed my conviction that our destiny as a people can only be fulfilled when we rise above bitterness and work together for the good of Kogi State and the Igala nation.”
Meanwhile, few weeks ago, Achuba secured a Court of Appeal judgment barring the Kogi State Government from taking his salary dispute to the Supreme Court.
The apex court declared that its decision remained final under the Nigerian Constitution, ordering the state government to pay all entitlements owed the former Deputy Governor.
