Obiano: Face Of Political Maturity

What is ordinarily supposed to be political mentorship, which obtains in most climes, has been abused in Nigeria under the term: Godfatherism. In this dysfunctional model, money bags, who see politics as a business venture, dust up candidates for certain elective positions, with the pecuniary motive of cornering funds meant for the well-being of the other citizens.

The direct impact of this is that developmental projects are stalled, salaries of workers are owed and existing infrastructures are dilapidated, due to lack of maintenance, while the few rich men (political jobbers if you like) feed fat on the commonwealth of the entire state.

In Nigeria, so many unsavoury instances abound. Was it not in Oyo State, during the Adedibu-Ladoja skirmishes that the ‘godfather’ accused his ‘godson’ of collecting huge sums as ‘security vote’ and having the audacity to believe he (godfather) was not entitled to half of the entire sum every month? In Anambra, did we not watch (with our faces covered in shame) how a sitting governor was abducted for failing to please his ‘godfathers’? At the federal level, we saw ‘open letters’ written, riddled with the most inglorious accusations, demeaning of the positions of both the ‘godfather’ and the ‘godson’.
In all the skirmishes that have erupted between the godfathers and godsons, one fact has been re-occurring. It is always a case of the godfather demanding more than the godson can accommodate.

From my observation, it could be money, influence, contracts or appointments. This is where the huge difference lies. A mentor would demand nothing, while fervently praying that his mentee outshines him, just the way good-spirited teachers see their pupils. But the godfathers, see their efforts as a business relationship, and get jealous any time their supposed ‘godson’ is doing well. Their minds dwell more on keeping the lids with them so they can cover the polity tightly at their whims and caprices. But is anyone God? Sometimes, such designs are bound to falter.

This is becoming interesting considering what is being peddled in some circles about Peter Obi (I love his title, Okwute) and Governor Willie Obiano (Akpokuo Dike), who maintains he is not a ‘godson’. At an informal panel discussion on matters arising from the forthcoming election in Anambra State amongst members of Igbo Media Forum, a body of journalists from Igbo land, which was operating as Ohaneze Media Forum, it was adjudged that Willie Obiano has done well as a governor in terms of deliverables, which should matter most, but certain opinions still feel, he should not have ‘quarrelled’ with Obi. And I am trying trying hard to understand how he, Obiano, should bear the brunt of any sour relationship between two adults.

The fact that Obi and Obiano now find themselves in different parties may be pointed to as a sign of cracks, but everyone knows that Peter Obi, willingly  left APGA, at a point pundits were proffering that he needed to advance his political career to the national level.  Signs that he was being prepared for an office at the Presidency by former President Good luck Jonathan were obvious, and in fact culminated in his appointment as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, shortly after he joined the party, aside leading Jonathan’s campaign in the region. But would this not have been possible, if there was a political alliance between APGA and PDP at the federal level?

Well, while frosty human relationships are inevitable, it is pertinent at this time to understand how Willie Obiano has handled the matter. He has understandably made overtures at mending fences in keeping with the creed of his Christian faith, and until recently has been trying not to dwell on the issue even when press interviews try to extract words from him. That is a mature and humane way to handle such matters. The beauty of it is that it has not gone messy like what has been going on in other states, which makes one feel that Willie Obiano has remained a ‘godson’ with a human face.

Let us look at some instances. In Abia, Theodore Orji was in detention when Orji Uzor Kalu, his predecessor, helped him get the ticket, organised the campaigns and won him the elections. But when their relationship became frosty, Theodore Orji not only ‘sacked’ Orji from PDP, but also frustrated his efforts at joining the party from Abuja in spite of all entreaties from well-respected sons of the state. To further annihilate the Orji Kalu phenomenon, Theodore Orji’s government, publicly stripped his predecessor of his degree, from the state’s university. The same thing happened between Orji Kalu and Ikedi Ohakim in Imo, where Ohakim dumped the PPA, a party ‘owned’ by Kalu , which brought him to power to join PDP.

In Enugu State, everyone knows the role of Chief Jim Nwobodo on the emergence of Chimaroke Nnamani as the governor of the state. And when the relationship became gall-sour, Nwobodo literally ran away from the state due to the ‘excesses’ of Nnamani, who enthroned policies targeted at destroying Nwobodo’s political and economic structures. Nwobodo barely recovered from the brute approach deployed by Nnamani in undermining his influence. In Rivers State, it was a similar spectacle. The present Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi is a man seen as an appendage of Peter Odili. Odili did so much to nurture Amaechi’s career in politics, ensuring he emerged Speaker for eight years. But when their relationship became strained, Amaechi reached for Odili’s jugular in an attempt to diminish him. In fact, to Odili’s awe, Amaechi, shortly after he assumed office, set up the Kayode Eso Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which according to Odili, was designed to drag him into some cases of murder and fraud during his tenure as governor of the state. We all know how grievous a case murder is, and to think it would be coming shortly after for a man with Odili’s personality can only be imagined.

In Anambra, what has happened between Obi and Obiano is regrettable to say the least, but you do not push someone to the wall and expect him not to talk. Obiano, has demonstrated in many ways that he is magnanimous in political contest against all odds. He allows posters of people in the opposition to smog the spaces in city centres. He allows jingles of opposition parties to play unrestrained, unlike in other states.  Peter Obi has not gone on political exile like the Nwobodos, Odilis, and Orji Kalus once did in their respective states. He campaigns freely and does whatever he desires unrestrained. Obiano’s has not set up any commission to probe him for any perceivable (or otherwise) sins while in office. He has refused to get messy like his mates would in this situation. That is commendable. That is a pointer to a heart of gold, a confirmation that he desires power but not at the peril of anybody’s dignity. This is unprecedented in our polity and must be commended. He is only telling Ndi Anambra what he has done so far and what they shall see in the next four years with their mandate. That is political maturity. Full stop.