LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-In Nigeria, politics has often been described as a dangerous game, one that demands courage, loyalty, and sometimes, blood.
Across the country, stories abound of men and women who paid a heavy price for their political convictions. Some have lost friendships, others their freedom, and too many have lost their lives.
It is a terrain where loyalty can turn lethal, where supporters become targets, and where the wrong slogan shouted at the wrong time can determine whether one lives to see another election season.
For many Nigerians, political violence isn’t just a story they read in the papers, it is a lived experience that shapes their faith in the system and, in some cases, their willingness to participate in it.
But among those who have walked through the fire and lived to tell their story stands Johnson Avoseh Akohomeh, a survivor, a believer in peace, and now, a leader.
Today, the 3rd of October, marks seven years since that dark moment in 2018 when violence broke out in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State during the gubernatorial primaries.
The air was thick with tension; the stakes were high. In the middle of it all was a young, passionate supporter of a candidate he believed in a man whose political journey would later be shaped by the very event that almost claimed his life.
Mr Akohomeh was beaten, hunted, left for dead, and today, he is the elected chairman of the same local government that once became his field of escape.
The Day the Sky Fell
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The 2018 gubernatorial primary elections in Ogun State were intense. Ipokia, like many parts of the state, was alive with political fever.
Banners hung from electric poles, motorbikes roared through the dusty roads, and conversations in markets and mosques often ended with heated arguments about who the next governor should be.
But beneath the excitement was a current of hostility. Allegiances ran deep, and rivalry within parties was fierce. What began as mere political competition soon turned into an atmosphere of suspicion and intimidation.
“It all happened so fast,” he recalled quietly. “One moment we were talking about the voting process, and the next, chaos erupted. Before I could even understand what was going on, I became a target.”
Akohomeh was attacked by thugs loyal to a rival faction, men he had probably greeted in town days earlier. They came armed with sticks, machetes, and rage. He was beaten mercilessly, his belongings taken, and his phone snatched.
As he fell to the ground, pain and disbelief filled his mind. It wasn’t just an assault; it was a betrayal of humanity.
Somehow, he escaped through the bushes, bleeding and barefoot, clutching to nothing but the will to live.
The once-bustling roads of Ipokia became silent trails of fear as he fled deeper into the unknown.
“I lost everything that day,” he said. “My phone, my money, and for a while, my faith in people. But I didn’t lose my life. And that was enough for me to believe that God still had a plan.”
After the attack, life didn’t immediately return to normal. The physical injuries healed with time, but the psychological wounds were slower to close. In the days and weeks that followed, he learned how lonely survival can feel in a world that moves on quickly from tragedy.
“People saw me, but they didn’t ask. They didn’t want to talk about it,” he said. “That silence was louder than the beating itself.”
Many in his community knew what had happened, but fear kept their lips sealed. In places like Ipokia, political violence often fades from conversation as quickly as it erupts; not because it’s forgotten, but because it’s safer not to remember aloud.
He could have walked away from politics then. Many would have understood if he did. But instead, he chose the harder path, to stay, to serve, and to rebuild his faith in leadership from within.
“I told myself that if I gave up, then those who attacked me would have won twice, once with their fists, and again with my silence,” Akohomeh said.
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The years that followed were marked by quiet persistence. He worked his way back into public service, avoiding drama and focusing on community engagement. His reputation began to shift from “the man who was attacked” to “the man who never gave up.”
He didn’t speak much about that night anymore. Instead, he channeled his energy into building bridges and supporting local development. When political differences arose, he was known for urging dialogue instead of division.
“I had to learn that peace isn’t weakness,” he said with a faint smile. “It’s strength under control. I could have fought back. I could have used my story to stir anger. But I wanted to be better than that. I wanted to show that forgiveness is also a kind of power.”
Seven Years Later — The Return
In 2024, exactly six years after that fateful night, he stood before a cheering crowd, not as a victim, but as the new chairman of Ipokia Local Government.
The irony was not lost on him. The same streets that once echoed with shouts of violence now carried chants of victory. The same community that had watched him flee through the bush was now watching him take the oath of office.
“It felt like a full circle,” he said. “I looked around during my swearing-in and saw faces, some that had stood with me, and some that had once stood against me. And in that moment, I knew that leadership is not about vengeance. It’s about vision.”
What made the victory even more remarkable was that some of those who had opposed him years earlier were now part of his political family, working under one party and one vision. Time, it seemed, had softened many hearts.
“That’s not something to boast about,” he reflected. “It’s a lesson, that maturity comes when we allow time to heal what anger broke.”
The Governor Who Saw Beyond Scars
Amid the story of endurance stands another figure, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, whose leadership played a key role in his rise.
“When others saw scars, His Excellency saw potential,” he said with deep gratitude. “He gave me a platform when it would have been easier to overlook me.”
For him, the governor’s trust and support became a symbol of what true leadership looks like, leadership that believes in second chances and invests in people, not just politics.
“Prince Dapo Abiodun didn’t just give me an appointment. He gave me healing, the kind that comes from knowing that pain doesn’t have to be the end of your story. His mentorship has restored hope, not only for me but for so many young people who just want to serve,” Akohomeh said.
Mr Akohomeh spoke of how the governor’s inclusive style inspired him to build his administration on fairness and accessibility. “When you’ve been hurt, it’s easy to lead from a place of fear or resentment,” he said. “But I wanted to lead from gratitude.”
A New Kind of Leadership
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As chairman, he has made peacebuilding and community development his top priorities. He believes that real leadership begins with listening to all. To the market women, the teachers, the farmers, and the youth.
“You can’t lead people whose pain you don’t understand. “My own experience taught me that,” he said.
He has since launched several initiatives focused on youth engagement, skill acquisition, and local infrastructure, all grounded in the belief that progress starts when people trust again.
His story resonates beyond politics. It is a testament to resilience, forgiveness, and faith — qualities Nigeria’s democracy desperately needs more of.
Speaking on what he would change if given the opportunity, Akohomeh said looking back, he wouldn’t change anything. The attack that almost ended his life became the turning point that defined it.
“Life teaches you in strange ways. Sometimes, the lessons come wrapped in pain. But if you’re patient enough, you’ll see the message in the mess,” he reflected.
Mr Akohomeh learned endurance when he could have given up. He learned grace when anger seemed justified. And he learned that leadership is not about being unbroken, it’s about being willing to serve, even with your scars.
“Power comes and goes, but character is what lasts. I want people to remember me not as the man who was beaten, but as the man who chose peace,” Akohomeh said thoughtfully.
Expressing his gratitude he said “I’m grateful for life, for growth, and for the opportunity to lead with a clean heart.
“May this journey continue to be one of peace. And may we all find the strength to forgive, to move forward, and to do better together.”