Why we must do away with god-fatherism

The culture of political godfatherism which pervades the political landscape is the bane of Nigeria’s nascent democracy. This culture has literally caused the fall of so many candidates who would have been great leaders in many states across the country. The idea that an aspiring candidate’s popularity, acceptability and public goodwill can never take him […]

The culture of political godfatherism which pervades the political landscape is the bane of Nigeria’s nascent democracy. This culture has literally caused the fall of so many candidates who would have been great leaders in many states across the country. The idea that an aspiring candidate’s popularity, acceptability and public goodwill can never take him to victory until he’s anointed and backed by a politically influential godfather is a fatal blow to the concept of good governance. It has many negative effects on the leadership system of the nation.

One of the sorrowful consequences of this habit which is borne out of an incurable penchant for an all-time relevance in the affairs of a particular domain is that it denies people the right to elect candidates of their choice. Secondly, those so anointed can never have the political will to subscribe to the whims and caprices of the masses in flagrant violation of the selfish interests of their political godfathers. So they must perpetually remain subservient to their bosses through the privilege of public offices at the detriment of the electorate. Thirdly, the economic and infrastructural dividends of a democratic rule are decimated by the political greed of a gluttonous few. Fourthly, this culture of imposing candidates by their godfathers obstructs credible electoral process which eventually produces puppets who add no value to the nation’s socio-economic productivity.

This menace of political godfatherism is one key internal factor that hampers the advancement of the democritisation process in Nigeria, particularly at local levels. The election of 2015 could be excused to some extent due to the uncontrollable Buhari tsunami that swept away political fortunes of the then ruling party, PDP. But despite that, imposition of unpopular candidates contributed to the fall and victory of both PDP and APC in many states with the former most hit by the phenomenon.  It is hoped that the bigwigs in both APC and PDP will come to the realisation that Nigerians are becoming wiser and more politically sophisticated. They will no longer remain in that tagged docility to allow self-appointed godfathers of certain individuals to impose on them candidates who do not appeal to them in 2019.

The masses awareness was evident in the way they reacted to the menace of imposition in 2015. That is sufficient warning to those deluded by the mirage that they will forever continue to install their puppets in the corridors of power with no regard to people’s rights to choose who will steer their affairs.
Yakubu Muhammad Rigasa wrote this piece from Kaduna and can be reached via: [email protected]