NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Nigeria: The Death of Political Godfathers

By Frank Ediagbonya

The emergency exit taken by the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan from the consulting room and operational theatre of Political Godfathers, whose advise to former and present public office holders encased Nigerian masses into everlasting hardship and hopelessness, has began to shape and create a new identity for Nigerian politics. His action has become a source of excitement to many and also a source of suspicion to most Nigerian audience who are sitting on the fence, watching the strangest events as they unfold in Nigeria. The action of the Ag. President has left quite a few hiding their red faces in shame, bewilderment and uncertainty due to a shift in political paradigm.

Dr Goodluck Jonathan is directing Nigerian politicians to a tutorial on how to place National interest above selfish interest of the Godfathers. Perhaps he is keen to redraw the political power map of Nigeria by pegging a beacon on the location of political power which resides in Aso Rock, not some consulting room elsewhere. Could this be the defining moment for Nigerian Politics? Can Nigerian Politics see the light of the day without the colossal presence of money bags and Political Godfathers? Who are the Political Godfathers? Of what benefits are Political Godfathers to potential politicians and to the Nigerian social system?

Nigerian Politics has been deprived of the good fruits of democracy and good governance because of flourishing political Godfatherism, which remains a major prerequisite of reaching any political office of one's dream in Nigeria. It all depends on who your Godfather is. The location of power has never been where many thought it is; real power lies in consultation room of political Godfathers. Those who appear to wear the crown of power sometimes do so ceremoniously, hence Nigeria's progress remain stagnated. ( Continues below….. )

Photo Above: Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria Acting President

Nigerian Politics has become a dangerous ground for softies and those who have no Godfathers or those who fall out of favour with their Godfathers. Godfatherism in Nigerian politics is an investment venture and a power league game for the untouchables. Those who invested in potential political candidates do not expect their money to go down the drain. It even propels elections to be fiercely contested which explain where elections are rigged at all cost and it also explain why many politicians are assassinated if they are becoming a threat to the Godfathers and their candidates in the political terrain. The nation's power is in the pouch of the Godfathers. Having a powerful or power broker Godfather requires you to meet some certain criteria and rituals. In return you get power, you become immune to persecution, you become fully equipped with the tools of oppression afterwards, you can loot the national treasury and public fund with impunity.

Political Godfatherism has defaced the moral values of the Nigerian society. It has deprived the la-creme, hard working honest and patriotic Nigerians from active politics in the land they loved so much. Dr Goodluck Jonathan has done what is only possible in a military regime by brushing aside with a wave of hand the Godfathers when he made his first three major decision as the Ag. President of Nigeria. We saw the mood of the Godfathers on the television, they were tensed with red faces. It is not done anywhere in Nigeria. No one can rule Nigeria without due consultation of the Godfathers. It is a risk so huge that it can only be compare to a man scratching his tongue with the teeth of a life cobra. ( Continues below..... )

What has Dr Goodluck Jonathan stand to gain if he continues to ignore the political tradition of Godfatherism? A tradition which has set Nigeria on the path of political backwardness and moral decadence in Nigeria. He stand to gain a lot even if he has been told that he cannot contest the next Presidential election come 2011. If Dr. Goodluck Jonathan put the nation first before the Godfathers who are scouting for national treasury to loot, then his name would automatically be written among great names like Abubakar Balewa, Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro etc.

Nigeria suffers from the menaces of Godfatherism. Sponsoring a group of candidates for political offices with the hope to rig elections or win it by do or die, encouraging these candidates to loot the national treasury so as to place the Nigerian masses in bondage forever; this act is disgraceful, unpatriotic and a huge disappointment of what democracy represents in a globalizing world. Godfatherism has finished and rendered Nigeria bankrupt, the earlier Nigerians eliminates Godfatherism, the sooner the prayers of the hopeless and helpless Nigerian masses be answered. Political Godfatherism is a clog in the wheel of Nigeria's progress.

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*Tags: Nigerians, Goodluck, Jonathan, Governance, Abuja, Lagos, Yar’Adua, Godfatherism, Africa, Masterweb