It is amazing how time flies as Governor Godwin Nosakhare Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), relinquishes power to his successor, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
This day is both bitter and sweet to both Obaseki and Okpebholo, akin to the transfer of power from incumbent President Joe Biden to President-Elect Donald Trump in the United States of America, USA, despite their bitter political fight that both waged against each other for their respect political parties to control the heart and soul of Americans. The good news about the U.S. transition, scheduled for January 20, 2025, is that it promises to be peaceful, as indicated by Biden’s invitation to Trump, the 45th president returning as the 47th to the White House.
In contrast, although in comparable circumstances since the incumbent governor’s candidate also lost in the race, the path to political leadership transition in Edo State has been fraught with personality clashes between outgoing Governor Obaseki and Governor-Elect Okpebholo. In fact, the tension is to the extent that there is a likelihood that Governor Obaseki may not be present to officially hand over the baton, as his team alleges that he hasn’t received an invitation, while Okpebholo’s representatives claim that Obaseki has already vacated the Government House ahead of the inauguration day. This disagreement has affected the traditional handover ceremony, resulting in a less than ideal image for Nigerian democracy, which, after 25 years of continuous practice, should have moved beyond these early-stage challenges.
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Unequivocally, one of the key issues facing Nigeria’s democratic process is the tendency of governors to choose successors who will cover up their tracks or be easily controlled. This week’s column is dedicated to examining the practice of godfatherism, especially the type where a godfather seeks to “serve” a third term indirectly by making a puppet of their successor.
Obaseki and Okpebholo
The irony of the succession crisis in Edo State—centered on former Edo governor and current Senator Adams Oshiomhole and his successor, the outgoing Governor Obaseki— is evident in a photograph of both of them sharing corn on the streets of Benin City. This image friends today enemies today common amongst political allies highlights the failure that often results from choosing a surrogate as a successor instead of allowing the electorate to exercise their civic rights to elect their governor freely. It is remarkable that, generable outside of the South-West, the bond between godfather and godson tends to break shortly after formation. The exception in the South-West is likely owed to the fact that their traditional rulers and elders who are highly respected in Yoruba land, often mediate in conflicts between governors and their successors/surrogates, before they degenerate.
The candid photo, which inspired part of this article’s title—‘Eat Corn Today, Corn-flict Tomorrow’—was taken eight years ago when Oshiomhole, then the incumbent governor, was campaigning with Obaseki as his chosen successor.
While an anonymous person had aptly tagged the scenario: “Be careful who you walk with: Eat corn today, corn-flict tomorrow,” I couldn’t resist adopting it as the title of this piece.
There is no doubt that the photo and caption will go down as one of the most creative and fitting representations of Edo State politics after the contentious September 21 gubernatorial elections. It also reflects the tendency of governors to impose surrogates, only to be disappointed and clash with them after handing over power to their anointed candidates, who they were expecting will be puppets.
As we now know, the highly contested Edo State gubernatorial race resulted in APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, emerging as the winner and this outcome has left the outgoing Governor Obaseki and his chosen successor, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, dismayed.
The third candidate in the race, Mr. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), lacked a powerful godfather, particularly as Mr. Peter Obi, the party leader who once had a cult-like following, has been somewhat “demystified.” This unravelling of Obi’s influence has been painful and somewhat humiliating, as some of his harshest criticism has come from his own constituency, which expects him to be more isolationist—a persistent challenge for any Igbo presidential candidate in Nigeria. Justifiably, Mr. Obi has intentionally tried to distance himself from this perception, yet some critics interpret gestures like his congratulatory message to former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on his 90th birthday as pandering. It is a tag that the LP presidential candidate in 2023 has vehemently rejected.
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Returning to Edo State, godfatherism remains a defining feature of its politics. Except for Governor Lucky Igbinedion, who served from 1999 to 2007 without a godfather, most other governors have had influential patrons. Igbinedion’s successor, Professor Osariemen Osunbor, was backed by the late Chief Tony Anenih, famously nicknamed “Mr. Fix It.”
Oshiomhole contested against Osunbor, challenging the election results and eventually winning in court. This victory elevated Oshiomhole as a “giant killer” in Edo politics, as he had triumphed over Anenih, the celebrated godfather. Oshiomhole even boasted that he had retired Anenih as a political force.
Ironically, the same Oshiomhole, who disrupted Anenih’s reign, as the preeminent godfather in Edo State, later became a godfather himself, helping Obaseki secure the governorship eight years ago. It was during Oshiomhole’s 2016 campaign to promote Obaseki that the well-known photo of the two of them eating corn on the streets of Edo State was taken. This image was used as a photo opportunity to convey camaraderie and continuity in governance, portraying the godfather and godson as grassroots-oriented leaders.
It is unsurprising that the photo opportunity, meant to display Oshiomhole and his anointed successor, Obaseki, as populist and grassroots-friendly politicians, worked like magic, helping Obaseki easily secure the mandate of the people for his first term.
Ironically, this photo has now come back to haunt them, serving as an instructive and cautionary tale to politicians who aspire to governorship and to those preparing to leave office that they should be careful of entering master-servant relationship.
There are allegations that Oshiomhole is poised to become a “third-term” governor by exerting influence over Governor-Elect Okpebholo, as he is perceived as the force behind Okpebholo’s success. But it is claimed that he has forcefully pushed back against.
In any case, such is the game of politics everywhere in the world, where politicians often fall out due to a misalignment of interests between former allies who suddenly become foes. As such, the unfolding scenario in Edo State validates the popular aphorism: there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics, only permanent interests.
Nevertheless, it would be a rare feat for Oshiomhole to assume the role of godfather a second time, having played that role during Obaseki’s first term in his tenure and now potentially for Okpebholo, who assumes office today, November 12, 2024.
As experience has shown from events in Rivers State—between Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike during Wike’s first term (2015-2019), and currently between Wike and Fubara (2023 to date)—the godfather/godson bond between Oshiomhole and Okpebholo may be short-lived. The romance seldom last beyond the first term.
This is especially likely if Oshiomhole decides to maintain a strong grip on Edo State’s affairs, much like Wike’s influence over Fubara in Rivers State, which has wrought severe socioeconomic consequences on the state, leaving the citizens as victims. One can only hope that the people of Edo State will not experience a similar political fallout, Oshiomhole and Okpebholo fail to read the ‘tea leaves’ and thread the knedle better to avoid the current unsavory experiences that have manifested especially in Kano and Rivers states.
As it may be recalled a major political power struggle threatens to stall Rivers State’s progress. This became apparent when “jungle don mature” (meaning “the jungle has matured”) became the rallying cry of Governor Fubara, signaling his break from his godfather, Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Assuming that INEC’s decision to declare Okpebholo the winner of the gubernatorial contest, currently being challenged in court, is upheld against the plan of Governor Obaseki and the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo (Obaseki’s preferred successor) who have insisted that Okpebholo’s victory is pyrrhic and must be overturned by the courts.
