SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has advised second-term governors to be thoughtful and strategic in selecting their successors, warning against choosing candidates solely based on loyalty or subservience.
Speaking at the commissioning of the first 30 kilometres of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Lekki, Lagos, Akpabio emphasized the importance of leadership vision.
He urged governors—especially those in the All Progressives Congress (APC)—to prioritize competence and preparedness over flattery or personal loyalty.
“Don’t hand over power to someone just because they kneel before you or their spouse displays excessive reverence,” Akpabio cautioned.
“Doing so could lead to disappointment and betrayal, as such individuals may be unprepared for the demands of governance.”
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, praised President Bola Tinubu, who was present at the event, for exemplifying both foresight and vision in leadership. He encouraged progressive governors to follow that model when determining their political successors.
Prominent figures at the event included Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Finance Minister Wale Edun, Works Minister Dave Umahi, and state governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Hope Uzodimma (Imo).
Akpabio’s remarks come amid ongoing concerns about “godfatherism” in Nigerian politics, where outgoing governors often handpick loyalists to maintain control even after leaving office.
While some of these arrangements succeed, many have resulted in power struggles and public fallouts between former allies.