A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Federal Commissioner at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Henry Idahagbon, has called for an immediate and conscious effort to end the culture of godfatherism in Nigerian politics.
Speaking during an interview in Abuja on Sunday, Idahagbon described the practice as a toxic “Nigerian invention” that continues to stifle the growth of democracy across the country.
The former Attorney-General of Edo State pointed out that while influential political figures exist in developed democracies like the United States, the Nigerian version of godfatherism is uniquely destructive.
He argued that the level of control and interference seen in Nigeria is unparalleled and has led to significant instability in several states.
Idahagbon highlighted the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers and Edo states as the clearest examples of the “negative impact” of this system. He noted that these two states currently represent the most extreme cases of godfatherism in the country.
Reflecting on the fallout between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki, he recounted the personal risks involved during that period.
Idahagbon revealed that at the height of their dispute, Oshiomhole’s security was so compromised that private arrangements were needed to escort him from the airport.
He also shared a chilling account of being the only person present in Oshiomhole’s home when thugs attempted to set the building on fire.
The APC chieftain observed that a similar pattern is currently unfolding in Rivers State. He criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for “breathing down the neck” of Governor Siminalayi Fubara simply because he helped him into office.
According to Idahagbon, this sense of entitlement over a successor’s administration is exactly what the political class must work to dismantle.
Offering a solution to the recurring friction, Idahagbon urged outgoing governors and presidents to exit the stage completely once their tenure ends.
He suggested that the desperation to handpick a successor often stems from a fear of prosecution or a lack of confidence in one’s own record.
“If governors do well, like I believe Gov. Alex Otti of Abia is doing in his state now, you don’t need to determine who succeeds you. Anybody can succeed you if your records are clean.”
Idahagbon concluded by calling for a national embrace of the mantra “one man, one vote,” a principle championed by Oshiomhole during his time as governor.
He emphasized that moving away from godfatherism is the only way to protect the integrity of the Nigerian polity.