When will political godfatherism end in Nigeria?
The decision of the ruling party in Nigeria, the APC, of denying the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, its flag for a second chance at the ballot in the upcoming election in September, 2020, indicates the disagreements between godfathers and godsons in Nigerian politics. This disagreement between them may not benefit the masses, […]
The decision of the ruling party in Nigeria, the APC, of denying the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, its flag for a second chance at the ballot in the upcoming election in September, 2020, indicates the disagreements between godfathers and godsons in Nigerian politics.
This disagreement between them may not benefit the masses, and it does not have link with moving Edo State forward.
Although Gov. Obaseki has claimed he will not beg APC to substitute its stand on his candidature, this may cost APC Edo State to another party where he will seek a smooth ticket, and this will definitely cause damages to APC if the APC leadership does not intervene, President Muhammad Buhari included.
Stopping Mr. Obaseki will not yield good output to both sides. Aslo, Mr. Obaseki has two choices: either to dump APC for another party or to stay within the party and cause more divisions.
Examples of such issues in Nigeria include the crises between the incumbent Governor of Kano, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, and his colleague in struggle, a former defense minister and former Governor, Sen. Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Another is the clash between a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the immediate former Governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Since 2015, Kwankwaso has played key roles and done everything lawful to see to Ganduje’s success. However, the two started fighting each other; deep down to their supporters; in and outside Kano, which in the end resulted to separation.
So in 2019, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso decided to adopt his former Commissioner for Works during his second tenure, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, as PDP’s gubernatorial candidate. Immediately after, In January, some Kwankwasiya youths dumped PDP for APC; leaving their boss, Kwankwaso, that led to Ganduje’s claim that, “We have retired Kwankwaso from politics”; which was condemned by many politicians in and outside Kano.
The crisis between Mr. Ambode and Sen. Bola Tinubu is a fact. Even though Mr. Ambode tried to confront his boss, Tinubu, but he later surrendered.
Political godfatherism is not new in Nigeria, but most times it does not end smoothly if the decisions of the boss and his client differ; which to some extent causes poor governance and lack of transparency.
Godfatherism weakens the intention of good citizens who have no godfather to declare their will to contest for different positions at national and state levels.
Therefore, now is the right time to stop the kind of political godfatherism in Nigeria and allow good citizens to partake in politics.
Conclusively, the crisis between Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki will only end if the two sides can do away with personal interest and prioritise the lives of the masses to bring what will move Edo forward.
Abubakar Wada Azare is a legislative aid in the 9th National Assembly ([email protected])