EDO ELECTIONS: SLAYING THE DRAGON?
Much has been written about the July 14th, 2012
Gubernatorial elections in Edo State and in many ways that election was
epochal, an alchemy in the history of democracy in Nigeria, a night of the long
knives of sorts if you consider the new grounds the people of Edo state broke
and the irremissible political garbage it swept away with it but I do not share
the ultra optimism of many that the election has by itself signaled the
extinction of the dinosaur – the “Godfather” in Edo and Nigeria’s politics. The
godfather may well be a dying breed, an end game for the godfather may be.
Still I do not believe that the dragon of Godfatherism in Nigerian politics has
been slain for good.
My pessimism stems from the nature and structure of Nigeria’s politics,
a distorted polis that will for the foreseeable future always throw up new
godfathers to take over the space vacated by the vanquished godfather because
the space exists and there is a territory to take over. In Edo State for
example indications are already emerging
and speculation rife that the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike
Oghiadhome will take over the leadership of the PDP and Chief Tony Anenih’s
machinery in the State. Now considering how the Chief of Staff himself rose to
prominence, what else will he be if not a virulent godfather in the mould of
his forebears?
The concept of godfatherism is thought to originate from medieval Italy
and Italians have a saying that ‘this world is so tough a man needs two fathers
to look after him, that is why we have godfathers’. The phenomenon of
godfatherism in Nigerian politics is age long, legendary and fascinating such
that at the advent of this present republic they became entrenched in every State in Nigeria. In Enugu State,
Chief Jim Nwobodo chose his godson, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani in 1999, Nnamani
became a godfather after retiring his erstwhile benefactor and godfather from
politics and he installed his godson Sullivan Chime as his successor in 2007.
Former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu chose his Chief of Staff of many years and
namesake, Theodore Orji, to succeed him in Abia State in 2007. In Ebonyi State,
Dr. Sam Egwu adopted a much older political godson in Chief Martin Elechi and
ushered him into Government house in 2007.
Perhaps the Anambra imbroglio is too notorious and was publicly
dramatized for anyone not to remember the sordid details. In the battle of the
two “Chris’s”, Chris Uba, the then new ‘kid’ godfather on the block did
everything with tacit support in turn from his Abuja godfathers to harry Chris
Ngige out of the Awka Government House, but the diminutive medical doctor,
Chris Ngige riding the crest of public sympathy proved himself a worthy
survivor for three years until he was sacked by the Court of Appeal for
electoral fraud.
The ubiquitous godfather did not spare any state of the federation. In
Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose and ensured the election of his erstwhile
Chief of Staff, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, in 2007 where though there are
muted reports of discontent between the two, they have thus far conducted their
affairs and those of Lagos State with some modicum of decorum. There was also
the case of the ‘Oloye’ in Kwara State who for as long as anyone can now recall
decided who will be Governor or hold any important political position in that
State until he met his match in his biological and political godson, Dr.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who dislodged the Elder Saraki and his loyalists from
the PDP and in the process got his own anointed godson elected governor of the
State in 2011. Who can forget the barbaric antics of the Garrison Commander of
Ibadan and Oyo politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu whilst he lived? It took the
ultimate fate – death – to wrestle the people of Oyo state from his vice like
grip.
In Edo State in general and particularly in the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih,
held sway as the numero uno, the godfather of godfathers as the Edo State
chapter of the PDP is uncommonly populated with all manner, hue and shades of
godfathers who it is said all owed allegiance to the Iyasele of Esan land. The
Chief’s influence was so pervasive that he sat holding court in his Uromi
country home, dispensing political patronage and deciding who was nominated
candidates in positions as low as Councilors in far flung areas of the State.
Many a brilliant political career was short circuited and ruined and many
obscure impostors catapulted to dizzying political heights in the State on the
godfather’s say so. It was the Chief who is alleged to fix everything and
anyone who famously declared in 2003 that there was no vacancy at both Aso Rock
and Edo State’s Dennis Osadebey Way, Government House, Benin City and thus the
people of Edo State were saddled with the Government of Chief Lucky Igbinedion
who wasted space, time and everyone’s resources for eight calamitous years.
The definition or idea of a godfather in any sphere of life may well
not have been an objectionable thing as the term ‘godfather’ has been described
as a man who provides inspiration or support, especially financial help, for a
person or cause. The corollary therefore of getting something back for such
support may also well be true and fair but the problem is that the godfather in
Nigerian politics wants everything and anything. He conducts himself in a capricious,
virulent and brazen manner without regard for decency and due process and he
does not care if the people for whose good Governments are organized lives,
thrives or dies.
Comrade Ugochukwu Emezue, the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State
Governor sums up the scourge of the godfather admirably for me when he told the
THISDAY newspaper “it affected governance adversely because you are not given
the freedom, not allowed to take decisions, there was a blockade, distractions
were here and there, money was siphoned, and people were imposed on the
governor, to the extent that nothing was going on here. Frivolous claims were
made; those around were answerable to the godfather … it was a period of
stagnatnion. If you get to know the kind of debt that was hanging on Abia then,
you would marvel”.
The Chief Press Secretary spoke about his experiences in Abia state but
he could well have been speaking for any State of the federation where the
Governor and the people are unfortunate enough to be saddled with an overbearing
godfather. Then we are wont to say, since the godfather is such an
objectionable figure of derision, it will only be right for Nigeria to get rid
of him!! Problem is the godfather is fierce and formidable. Solution however is
a determined and fearless electorate with an alternative, determined and
fearless leader, who has and is continually willing to show the right and
determinate leadership as happened in the case and recent history of Edo State.
So much for the myth and might of the godfather then!! For once, a
Governorship candidate won in all the 18 Local Government Areas of the State,
routing the PDP everywhere, anywhere and even in all places considered their
traditional stronghold; the PDP was defeated by the ACN in Anenih’s polling
unit; other PDP Chieftains were similarly so embarrassed; the PDP was decimated
in Samuel Ogbemudia’s polling unit; the ACN won in Gabriel Igbinedions polling
unit. The Candidate of the PDP in the
State, Charles Airhiavbere lost his polling unit, the State Chairman of
the PDP, Chief Dan Obih and the Chief of
Staff to the President and former Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Mike
Oghiadhome lost the election at all levels in their various areas of influence.
Now that Anenih, the reputed ‘Mr. fix it’ has apparently been fixed,
does it therefore mean that the fierce and formidable dragon that is the
godfather in Nigerian politics has finally been slain? Many think so but I do
not share their optimism. It is not to say though that their optimism is
misplaced but my experience of Nigerian and Edo politics does not inspire such
confidence. I do not believe that just yet, though I fervently pray that I am
proved wrong and that my fears be misplaced. But three things to note is you
can be sure that the godfathers across the country will fight back; there are
too many lieutenants who are waiting in the wings to step into the godfathers
vacated shoes (closet godfathers); and worst of all, the godsons who slay their
godfathers only become more virulent godfathers themselves and this vicious
circle shows no sense of abating anytime soon. It may well be set to continue
an unfortunate and unedifying trend.
But what can the people do really? The good people of Edo State have
shown the way in this regard. ‘[The price of liberty is eternal vigilance’.
Stephen O. Obajaja Esq. is a Partner at the Lagos
Law Firm of Fountain Court Partners.
STEPHEN O. OBAJAJA
Fountain Court Partners
Block 36B, LSPDC Estate
Ogudu Road
Ojota – Lagos.
08052066172.
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