Current Trends: List Of State Governors Who Have Not Yet Fought Their Godfathers After One Year in Office.

Conflicts between political godfathers and their mentees, referred to as godsons, are not uncommon in Nigeria.

Rabiu Kwankwaso against Umar Ganduje, Peter Obi against Willie Obiano, Udom Emmanuel against Godswill Akpabio, Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki, Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola are a few of the most well-known clashes.

At the moment, press attention is centred on the conflict between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, former Governor Nyesom Wike.

In Kaduna, former governors Nasir El-Rufai and Uba Sani are embroiled in a power battle, and in Benue State, governor Alia and former governor George Akume are fighting for control of the party structure.

However, in a few states, the transition from incumbents to successors has gone without a hitch.
Arguments may occur, but they haven’t been reported by the media yet.

Enugu State:

A prominent member of the G5, former governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, endorsed Peter Mbah ahead of the primaries in 2022. The PDP was able to hold onto power in the state despite a strong push by the Labour Party during the election.

Ugwuanyi, however, suffered a severe defeat at the hands of Labour Party candidate Okechukwu Ezea in his race for the Senate seat.

While Mbah seems to be solidly in charge of administration and the PDP in Enugu State, Ugwuanyi has turned his attention since leaving office to the G5 fight for power within the PDP nationally. The outgoing governor and his successor appear to get along well, based on his quiet about state government.

Sokoto:

Since 1999, Aliyu Wamakko has been a major player in the Sokoto State leadership contests. He faced backlash after endorsing Aminu Tambuwal in 2015, although he returned the favour by endorsing Ahmad Aliyu in the previous year. At the moment, Wamakko and Aliyu seem happy with the political landscape in the state.

Kebbi State:

During the primaries, former governor Atiku Bagudu supported Nasir Idris, helping him defeat former Senate Majority Leader Yahaya Abdullahi.

Strong candidates like former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami were discouraged from running for the party ticket by Bagudu’s backing of the former President of the Teachers’ Union.
After a year in office, there have been no power conflicts in the state over control of the party organisation between Bagudu and his successor.

Akwa-Ibom:

The most recent governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, prevailed against his erstwhile godfather, Godswill Akpabio, after a fierce struggle. In 2022, Emmanuel supported Umo Eno to succeed him, saying that Eno had been revealed to him by God. Since leaving office, the former governor has kept a low profile and there haven’t been any apparent power struggles in the state.

Cross River:

Since the previous election, there seems to have been a constructive relationship between Governor Bassey Otu and his predecessor, Ben Ayade. Despite supporting Otu for governor, Ayade’s endorsement was not without controversy. Ayade appears to have given over control of the political system to his successor by staying out of politics after losing the senatorial race.

Ebonyi:
In order to gain control of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, the former governor, had to overcome significant obstacles. He was the only one to nominate and secure Francis Nwifuru’s candidature for the APC.
Now serving as the Minister of Works, Umahi appears to be concentrated on his federal responsibilities, with the governor managing state-level matters.
In the meantime, President Bola Tinubu becomes one of the leading political godfathers of democracy’s comeback. He has controlled the political system in Lagos State since 2007 and has masterminded the ascension of three governors.

Kano State:
Following years of political failures at the hands of his former deputy, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State appears to have mastered the art of political mentoring.
In 2015, he reluctantly endorsed his then-deputy, Umar Ganduje, for governor, a move that nearly cost him his political base.
In future elections, Kwankwaso supported his son-in-law, Abba Yusuf, but was defeated. The identical ticket was duplicated in 2023 and proved to be a success.
Currently, Kwankwaso and his son-in-law appear to be focusing their efforts on the same foe, Ganduje.

Jigawa:
There has been harmony between Umar Namadi, the new governor of Jigawa State, and former governor Abubakar Badaru, the minister of defence. In 2019, Badaru selected his deputy by hand to be his successor, and it appeared that the plan was carried out with great care.

Delta:
A change occurred in Delta State in 2023 when a James Ibori-endorsed candidate lost the governorship for the first time.
When Sheriff Oborevwori, Ifeanyi Okowa’s nominee, defeated David Edevbie, Ibori’s preferred candidate, breaking the custom.
Okowa gave two reasons for his decision: the necessity to respect the state’s rotational politics and fairness.
Notwithstanding these incidents, Delta State has maintained a calm environment since the election, thanks to the efforts of the governor and his predecessor.

Written by Jideofo Okibe,(Obinwannem News correspondent Enugwu State)
Date: May 24, 2024
Ubochi Afo Ani
Published by Ngozi Odoh (Obinwannem Nsukka Office Secretary)