By joshua One Lesson from Sen. Ohere (Oherenya Yoza) Loyalty Beyond Office
One important lesson I have learnt from Sen. Ohere Sadiku Abubakar (FNSE), popularly known as Oherenya Yoza, is the depth of loyalty, consistency and faithfulness a person can show to a cause he genuinely believes in.
His relationship with His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, CON, former Executive Governor of Kogi State, is a clear example of commitment beyond the privileges of office.
Before serving Kogi State, Sen. Ohere spent over two decades in the Federal Civil Service, rising from Field Engineer to management level in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. His background in engineering and public administration prepared him for state governance.
He began his service under the New Direction Administration in January 2016 as Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, coordinating grassroots governance and strengthening engagement with traditional rulers and local stakeholders.
He was later elevated to Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in 2019, and at the start of the second tenure, appointed Honourable Commissioner for Works and Housing in January 2020. In that strategic portfolio, the ministry delivered roads, bridges, housing and other structural improvements across the state.
On 16 April 2022, he voluntarily resigned to contest for Kogi Central Senatorial District.
What is worthy of observation is not just the offices he held, but the consistency he has shown after leaving government.
Today, without an executive position, he remains associated with the political aspiration of Yahaya Bello for Kogi Central in 2027. His presence in grassroots communities and engagement with ordinary supporters shows the importance of maintaining relationships beyond the corridors of power.
Political loyalty, however, should not be confused with blind allegiance. It is best understood alongside personal conviction, mutual respect and accountability. Yet, consistency when there is no immediate official benefit remains a quality worth examining.
As a young historian, I recognize that political history is shaped not only by elections and appointments, but by relationships, decisions and values.
Public office is temporary. What endures is how individuals conduct themselves, the relationships they nurture and the contributions they make.
Sen. Ohere, your journey provides a story worth documenting. Leadership is not defined only by title, but by values demonstrated and commitments maintained.
– Prince Muhammed Otaiki