Rivers: Time To Dismantle The Politics Of Godfatherism -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The ongoing political impasse in Rivers State between the immediate past governor of the state and current minister of FCT, Nyensom Wike, and his political godson, governor Similayina Fubara is a mockery of our constitutional democracy. However, Wike’s cold war with governor Fubara did not come to many Nigerians as surprise. Since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s elites armed with financial wherewithal have constituted themselves as kingmakers. They heavily invest and use their political connection to sponsor politicians to power in anticipation of lucrative contracts and other financial patronages. But these politicians mostly powerful state governors, after amassing stupendous wealth suddenly, abandoned their benefactors and became another kingmakers. These powerful governors deploy state’s resources and ensure their anointed candidates win elections at all cost. The reason for supporting their anointed candidates is not far-fetched. They want to continue ruling their states by proxies. In the last two decades of our democracy journey, the politics of godfatherism has been deeply entrenched and nurtured beyond redemption.

  The ongoing crises which rock the Rivers state is the dangerous effects of politics of godfatherism. Governor Fubara who hardly enjoyed his honeymoon like his colleagues is waging a survival war with his political Godfather, Nyensom Wike. Sadly, the battle of supremacy between the duo is not for the benefit or development of the oil rich state. It is purely for the control of the State’s politics and resources. Did Wike and Fubara signed a deal or an agreement before the last general election? Did Governor Fubara at early days of his administration breached or reneged the agreement he entered with his God father(Wike)? The bone of contention or genesis of the political tension has remained unknown. When the crises broke, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, called the dramatis personae to an emergency meeting and broker a peace. The governor latter apologized to the good people of river state and Wike. With the intervention from Mr President, many had thought that, Fubara and Wike had sheathed their sword and allowed peace to reign in the volatile state. Alas, it has never been. 

   The decision of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to decamp to the opposition APC in order to impeach the governor, has added fuel to the flame of the crises. Though, the lawmakers have cited crises in PDP as the reason for their decampment, this is far from the truth. The National leadership of PDP and River State chapter has neither enmeshed in crises nor factionalized to constitutionally warrant their cross-carpeting. To blame crises within the rank and file of their former party is baseless and figment of their imagination. To confound the crises, another three pro-Wike’s commissioners have resigned their appointment. Will governor Fubara survive the Wike’s political tsunami? The decision by the governor to demolish the partially bombed state’ house of assembly complex has given him the cover up against pro-Wike legislators who are desperate to hatch their dirties job. The national leadership of PDP has declared the seats of the 27 members who decamped to the APC vacant and called for INEC to conduct a fresh elections. While these measures taking by governor Fubara and his party may provide a temporary relief, in the long run, Wike who is hell-bent to remove him will have his way.

If governor Fubara is removed, what will happen to the peace of Rivers state? And, if Wike after serving as a governor for good eight years, without any Godfather’s interference can have his way, what will happen to our constitutional democracy? The absurdity in Rivers State will set a bad precedent and enslave politics of godfatherism in the country to a dangerous level. It is high we dismantled the politics of godfatherism.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state. 08169056963.