Politics and Political Godfatherism

By

Samuel Uwhejevwe-Togbolo

mfyai@yahoo.com

 

 

Politicians in Nigeria should wear a human face in pursuing their political ambition. Politics in Nigeria has become an investment where the investors are set to make profit at all cost, as a result, political brutality is pervading the society. This set of politicians has been in their usual status quo since our democratic dispensation. The mirage is a holocaust that is grinding our political system; their political diagnosis is imperative.   When in recent times, In turning up the political computer of politicians; I browse through their profiles, I saw infected files which cannot be diagnosed, the corrupt nature of these files is not responding to anti-virus, I tried scanning the computer, yet the computer is neither ready for scanning nor want to crash. We need a political virologist to scan our political computer.  The quest to hold on to power by these politicians as our foremost leaders is on the increase; their enthusiasm is as constant as K is constant in Mathematical Variables. Their political bruhaha, political gbagha, political oppression and political victimization are on a high frequency. Every politician wants to become a political godfather. Godfather, is as old as politics itself, godfather is even in the church, in the case of Christian dom, the godfather assists the godson to attain the level of a responsible person in the society. In other words, he teaches the godson the norms and values of the society and inculcates in him a better character.

 

Meanwhile, political godfather is another ball game all together; it is the opposite. The political godfather usually brings the political godson to the lime light of politics. He (godfather) introduces him (godson) to the people that matters. However, the godson having successfully clinched the seat with the support of their godfather, quietly wants to sideline their political godfather. This maybe, as a result of over lordship, by their godfather, wanting to dominate the Government; giving directives and controlling the administration.   

 

The Fourth Republic in Nigeria has witnessed these ugly trends from inception soon after the Governors were swear-in in 1999. The political actors and their estrange political godfather were in the verge of contending who is who in their state. Prominent among the warlords in the states are Senator Modu Ali Sheriff vs Governor Mala Kachalla of Borno; Dr. Olusola Saraki vs Governor Mohammed Lawal (Kwara State); Senator Jim Nwobodo vs Governor Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu State); Chief Emeka Offor vs Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju (Anambra State); and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi vs Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State. These are various political godfatherism syndrome in most states in Nigeria, while other states are reconvening, settling their differences and reshaping their polity in a democratic direction, Anambra State actors and boss are bent on saddling the people with a truncating government. Indeed the people of Anambra state have not reap from democracy.

The political tussle in Anambra state started with Governor Mbadinuju and Emeka Offor. What appeared to be a minor disagreement between Governor Chinwoke Mbadunuju and Chief Emeka Offor who reportedly bankrolled Mbadinuju's governorship ambition, later turned out to be a major face-off, which threatened the soul of the state. The crises eventually hamstrung the governor and in the process, he incurred the wrath of other segments of the state.

 

The situation was worsened by his inability to regularly pay civil servants and teachers who were owed for nearly a year. This led to a strike action by the workers. As a result, the Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) became critical of the governor and gave him an ultimatum to pay salary arrears or resign forthwith. In the process of the agitation, the chairman of Anambra NBA was assassinated along with his wife.

Governor Mbadinuju made the people of Anambra state to experience demonstration of craze instead of democracy. The education system was a mess, social life and basic amenities were not met for the people of the state, the street of Onitsha was littered with rubbish and abject neglect, Mbadinuju did not put the people to heart rather he concentrated on his political godfather. Mbadinuju should not think of vying for any political position for now. What fathom Mbadunuju and Offor have to give in destroying the future of some youths during his administration; youths that were involved in making cheap money by hawking on the streets when they where supposed to be in school. Mbadinuju and Offor should apologise to the people of Anambra state for hijacking the democratic process during his (Mbadinuju) regime and beg for forgiveness like Chris Uba for rigging election.

The vicious circle has being on the foist since the inception of Governor Chris Ngige and is estranged political godfather Chris Uba, Why is it that Anambra state don’t want to learn from its past mistakes, there is a saying; “ it is better to learn from your mistake” mistake is bound to happen, the ability to learn out of the mistake and act positively makes it productive.  

The tussle between Gov. Chris Ngige and Chris Uba has cost the state a lot of destruction of Government property, that were built with taxpayer’s money, the scenario was clear as the people behind the scene were known and nothing has been done. The crisis has caused a lot in the polity of the nation and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in particular. The said crisis led to the resignation of the party former chairman Audu Ogbeh that led to the appointment of the current chairman Ahmadu Ali. The first assignment by the current chairman was the expulsion of the duo from the party, could this solve the problem? Chris Uba is pitching tent with the party elders to remove Ngige from Government house. While the embattled Governor is trying to impress the people of Anambra state with developmental projects that will better the life of the people. In a discussion, I had with one “Anambarian”, he said “ Ngige has tried, continuing, successive government has not been able to do what Ngige has done, the embattled Governor has tarred the road to our village, schools are in section and to compliment issues, salaries are paid promptly amidst the crisis” with this statement, one will be convinced, that the people do not have any grudge against the governor (Ngige).

 

Anambra State, which happens to be an industrial state, has been perturbed with godfatherism syndrome, a canker warm that has eaten deep into the polity and economic situation of the state. I enjoined the “Anambarian” to watchout carefully ahead 2007 to rid the polity of the state from claws of godfatherism. Godfatherism is one of the pandemic that is endangering our polity. It compels elected official to siphone funds made for public infrastructural development to private accounts, thereby jeopardizing and mortgaging the future of the citizens; Nigerians should resist this ugly trend.

As Nigerians, we are saddled with the collective responsibility of effecting change in the politics of our nation. We believe in change that is inevitable. Some school of taught, sees politics as a dirty game, while others believe politics in Nigeria as a dirty. Idealist believe that, in as much as Nigeria politics is dirty or what ever it’s being called; envelop with greed, and self aggrandizement, there will always be a positive change and a better future for our country, Nigeria.  Why is it that, in Nigeria, politics is called dirty game? Can’t we change it with all urgency? We should suggest and make a forum to liberalize the political ingrate and kleptomania from the state of political alsoran.

Nigerians are ambitious to seeing a resurrected economy that will define the truthfulness and oneness of our bedeviled society. We have been patience, ambivalent in response to issues, politically, socially and economically. Our amity in the face of this stress, travail and anguish will redeem us from the evil geniuses (Dubious politicians)

Movement for youth actualization international (MYAI) a non-governmental organisation in delta state

mfya@yahoo.com