God-Fatherism: An Integral Part of Politics — By Oluwasegun Samuel Falade 

God-Fatherism: An Integral Part of Politics — By Oluwasegun Samuel Falade 

In my entire political sojourn, I have come to realize that Political actors are averse to being lorded over by any God Fathers. This I have keenly observed overtime.

Plausibly, In the context of the country’s politics, it is usually not uncommon to see this between Governors and their immediate predecessors. The truth is that no Governor wants to be a rubber-stamp leader or a subordinate. This I know!

However, I think there are better approaches that could be explored to accommodate the wishes of God Fathers; as such, assuaging their interest, as well as, adorning their relevance.

But why do political God sons feel so uncomfortable? Perhaps, such subordinates feel uncomfortable with the domineering factor posed by the God Father in steering affairs of their government. The question that now comes to mind, is should God Fathers now be forcefully ostracized into political oblivion? In my view, this might be suicidal. How do I mean? If such is carried out, and most especially when the time is not ripe for it, the outcome might be counterproductive and disastrous. The aftermath might be tantamount to the fate of the proverbial boy who persists in asking what happened to his father before he has enough strength to avenge him, because he might end up suffering his father’s fate.

My views on this might not coalesce with that of many members of the public. Truth be told, God-Fatherism remains an integral part of Politics. Many of them typify the proverbial Yoruba deity Ésú, that requires palm kernel oil to appease their terrestrial authority.

In the light of the above, One indelible aspect of Nigerian Politics is that Politicians lean on the Shoulders of Politically experienced, Influential and Financially Loaded Juggernauts to ride to power.

Something of unbecoming outcome seems be behind the rising cold war, and of course war of attrition between Ex Gov Nysome Wike and his immediate Successor, Gov. Fubara. It now appears that the very Fabric of the Leadership-followership garment that united the duo, has suddenly been shredded into rags. Their recent actions in the handling of the feud between the duo has further validated what political soothsayers have predicted would be the outcome of their future political engagement.

I don’t need to be told, that there would have been occasions when and where, he Fubara would have groveled at the knees of his now estranged Boss to get his endorsement as the Governor. The endorsement which put him at the exalted seat, as the Governor of the oil rich State.

Many political analysts and pundits were of the views that it is the game of you scratch my back, I rub your palm that exists between Wike and Fubara. Whether his estranged Boss has any clandestine deals the Governor is privy to that people now consider as a potent argument to back the decision of he Fubara is another thing. Some were even of the view that he couldn’t have earned his Godfather’s endorsement if there were no privy deals.

I chose not to align ,with those views, because many would have been in the same caucus that might be better informed than he Fubara does, yet never got endorsed. As such, he should have reasons to still consider himself a sheep to the shepherd. Usually, such Sheperdship is time dependent.

As the political temperature in Rivers rises, it is becoming glaring that many perceived political rivals of the FCT Minister, Nysome Wike would throw their weight behind the Governor to count political scores on the embattled Ex Governor. Since the battle line has been drawn between the duo, I doubt if there could be anything magical to douse the tension, thereby bringing a political solution to the ongoing leadership fracas between the two gladiators.

Before I conclude, I have this advice. As a subordinate, in as much as your God Father has played a prominent role leading to your assumption of seat of power, whether it is politically right or not; always create a place for their continuous reign. This doesn’t alter your political growth.

Like I said elsewhere, Unbeknownst to the FCT Minister Wike, he might have succeeded in nurturing a baby lion. In politics, if mother lion is not tactical, its baby may like to devour it. Would that be the case between Wike and Fubara? Sit back, as we watch the thickening politics ongoing in one of the Nation’s oil-rich States.

My Advice to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is for him to be Conscious of who he is dealing with. He might be fighting the wrong person. He should be mindful of the Igbo adage that says, a man might have Ngwu and still be killed by Ojukwu.

Falade Oluwasegun Samuel is a Public Affairs Analyst

He writes from Akure, the capital city of the Sunshine State.