BY GBENGA OKE
THE concept of god-fatherism has firmly established itself as a guiding principle in the contemporary Nigeria politics and this has made an average politician in Nigeria believe that without a godfather little or  nothing can be achieved.

Godfathers are generally defined as men who have the power to make or mar a person. They determine who get nominated to contest elections and who win the election. Although, many are of the view that god-fatherism is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, yet it has eaten deep into Nigerian politics and remains a factor to be reckoned with in getting elective offices.

In the build up to the 1999 general elections, the role played by godfathers was not un-noticed as many of them single-handedly put machineries to ensure the candidates of their choice assumed office against all odds even when it was against the wish of the people or the party.

Concern over the rising influencing of godfathers in the polity arose since 1999 and the situation led some political office holders to move against their godfathers so as to free hand to work for their people.

Prior to the just concluded general elections, many had thought the situation would continue the way it used to be where some godfathers use their powers to select candidates and eventually win elections for them and thereby control their godsons.

After the elections, results have so far shown that many of the godfathers have lost out in the struggle for power in their various states. They may not be relevant or play active roles again, at least for now because they have been relegated by the godsons.

Across the states, there is are a number of godfathers begging for political rehabilitation.

Abia State

It is a known fact that since 1999, former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu had been the godfather of Abia politics. After serving two terms as governor of the state in 2007, he single-handedly with his political structure ensured that Theodore Orji emerged as the governor of the state. Then, Orji was in prison and he won the election from the prison.

In the build up to the 2011 elections, both Orji Kalu and his godson, Theodore Orji however fell out. The situation forced the governor to decamp into the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and later to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Since then, both men have gone their different ways, a situation which eventually made Orji Kalu contest a Senate seat on the platform of the Peoples Progressive Alliance, PPA which he lost to the PDP, which fielded Senator Uche Chukwumerije. He has since been silenced by the Governor, who against all odds took the bull by horns to dispossess Orji Kalu of his reign as the godfather of Abia politics.

Kwara State

The game in Kwara politics is quite different from other states of the federation because it was a game weaved around a father, son and daughter. The elder Olusola Saraki had always played the role of godfather of Kwara politics. After making his son, Dr Bukola Saraki, the governor of the state in 2003 and 2007, his plan to make his daughter, Senator Gbemisola Saraki the next governor of Kwara state failed. And it failed because his son, Bukola said ‘no’ and backed another candidate. It has since dawned on political players in the state that the era of godfather is over as Dr Bukola Saraki seems to have retired his father from politics.

Kebbi State

In Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero seems to hold the ace, playing the role of the godfather before 2007. After governing the state twice, Aliero single-handedly ensured that the incumbent governor, Saidu Usman Dakingari emerged after him in 2007. Not quite long Dakingari took over affairs of the state, a war broke out between the two jolly friends and this eventually forced Adamu Aliero to abandon the PDP for the Congress Progressive for Change (CPC) to once again realise his dream of becoming a senator. He however lost out to the governor’s machinery. Since after the defeat suffered by Aliero, he has become calm as nothing much is being heard about him politically in Kebbi politics.

Ogun State

The emergence of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has sent the era of godfather into exile in Ogun State. Before now, there had been a war between two godfathers – Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the incumbent governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

The war between Daniel and Obasanjo turned the state into a battlefield and eventually produced two governorship candidates, Chief Tunji Olurin and Gboyega Isiaka on the plank of the PDP. The situation later forced Gboyega Isiaka to decamp to Peoples Party of Nigeria, (PPN) with the backing of his godfather (Otunba Daniel) leaving General Tunji Olurin as the PDP candidate with the backing of Obasanjo. The war between both godfathers led to the loss of PDP in the state while ACN went home victorious.

Benue State

In the build up to the 2007 elections, Senator George Akume held Benue State together politically and he was regarded as one of the godfather of Benue politics. After supporting Governor Gabriel Suswam to become governor in 2007, a political war broke out between both men not quite long after Suswam assumed office. Akume has cited betrayal as the cause of the problem between them.

Suswam moved against Senator Akume, who had to abandon the PDP for ACN to re-contest and win his Senate seat and a couple of federal legislative seats but the Suswam-backed PDP won the bulk of the electoral contests.

Although Senator Akume was able to scale through using the ACN as a platform to win re-election, the fact still remains that Akume as the godfather of Benue politics has lost his strength of controlling mainstream politics in Benue State.