The fat lady has song in Edo State as the saying goes. The residents of Edo State have spoken loud and clear that they do not want godfatherism in their politics. Governor Godwin Obaseki won re-election with a sizeable margin. Mr. Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 307,955 vote to defeat his opponent, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of All Progressive Congress (APC) who scored 223,619. Political godfather is the single most insidious and onerous cankerworm that presented and still presents the biggest threat to Nigerian democracy. It struck Anambra State in 1999 through 2003 when Mr. Mbadinuju was the governor. Successor governor to Mbadinuju, Chris Ngige liberated Anambra State from the bondage of political godfatherism. The natural death of Oyo State godfather, Mr. Adedibu liberated the people of Oyo State from their godfather misery. Kwara people revolted and overthrew their godfather, former Senate President, Mr. Saraki. We still have godfather in Lagos State who incidentally tried to intrude in this election by supporting his fellow godfather. Someday, Lagosian will do what Edo People did through the ballot box on September 19, 2020.
Current governor of Edo State, Mr. Obaseki who just won re-election have done a good job as governor considering the never ending distractions. The former governor, Mr. Oshiomhole wants to dictate to him what he should do as governor which is antithetical to human behavior. Mr. Oshiomhole said that he wants him to continue his policies. What good is election for, if successor governor or president or national assembly etc. will be compelled to continue policies of their predecessors. Continuity is good but what about bringing fresh ideas and different skill to governance in-order to achieve same objective of improving people’s life. Godfathers not only want to control the governors, but they also want access to the State treasury.
It is unfortunate that Mr. Oshiomhole’s penchant to control event in Edo State after the expiration of his eight-year tenure as governor cost him National APC Chairmanship and the remaining political following he had in Edo State and the rest of the country. As former long time Chairman of Nigerian Labor Congress, he was supposed to be a man of the people, but he instead dug his political grave by trying to impose his will on his successor and the state.
Governor Obaseki will now have all the time he needs to concentrate on governance and provide the people of Edo State the dividend of democracy. Former governor, Mr. Oshiomhole has nobody to blame but himself. Remaining and potential godfathers should learn their lesson and move on before they will be disgraced by their people at the ballot box. President Buhari should also be congratulated for not interfering in this election to favor candidate of his political party who lost the election. Candidate should win or lose election based on their merit.