Monday, January 26, 2026 - Federal Commissioner representing Edo, Ekiti and Ondo States at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Henry Idahagbon, has described godfatherism as a Nigerian invention that must be consciously dismantled.
According to him, I believe that the concept of
godfatherism is a uniquely Nigerian invention. Maybe it’s one of Nigeria’s
negative contributions to the development of democracy.
He noted
that all over the world, including the United States and most developed
democracies, there were very influential political leaders whose views go a
long way in winning or losing elections.
“But there
is nothing that can be compared with the Nigerian concept of godfatherism, that
is why I said it’s a unique Nigerian creation, a Nigerian invention.
“In Rivers
and Edo, we have seen and still seeing the negative impact of godfatherism.
Those two states represent perhaps the worst species of godfatherism in
Nigeria.
“At the
peak of the Obaseki and Oshiomhole imbroglio, we saw Obaseki practically
declaring Oshiomhole a person of non-grata in a state that he governed for
eight years.
“I remember we had to arrange for private security to escort
Oshiomhole from the airport to even get to his house.
“On many occasions, his cars were stoned, but for the fact
that they were bulletproof, he would have been injured. And I happened to be
the only person who was in his house the day thugs came to attempt to bomb down
his house.
“And the same thing is playing again in the river states. We
have the minister of the FCT, who keeps breathing down the neck of Governor
Siminalayi Fubara because he brought him to power.
“So it’s something that the Nigerian political class have to
now consciously dismantle.’’
Idahagbon who was a former Attorney General and Commissioner
for Justice during the Oshiomhole’s administration emphasized the need for
governors and even presidents to leave for good when they leave office.
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