‘Godfatherism’ in Nigerian politics has caught the attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who has condemned its influence, describing them as fake leaders.
According to the Speaker, ‘godfatherism’ was hindering the delivery of good governance in the country, insisting that after corruption, the next issue that Nigerians must confront in order to enjoy the dividends of democracy was to end ‘godfather politics’ which he classified as another form of corruption.
The Speaker stated this on his official Twitter handle.
Dogara, who failed to mention the name of any particular godfather, said while true leaders raise competent leaders, godfathers only focus their attention on raising sycophants.
“Are godfathers true leaders? True leaders raise leaders while godfathers busy themselves in raising sycophants,” he said.
The Speaker further said: “After killing corruption, the next thing to kill is ‘godfatherism.’ In fact it (godfatherism) is corruption in another form. So let’s kill both.
“With godfathers always breathing on the necks of their godsons who hold public offices, we can’t kill corruption and make progress. Why should the success or rising profile of a godson turn into the godfather’s insecurity? Why do godfathers always want to have followers who do not and must not have a sense of self-worth?
“Why does certain godfathers’ security rest on the insecurity of those they claim to have helped to power? Thank God for the social media but how many of us can stand up to what we hold dear, especially when our godfathers say no. Where is the place of character in our leadership recruitment process? Why are we no longer convicts of our own conviction? “Why should the success or rising profile of a godson turn into the godfather’s insecurity? Why do we abandon our convictions at the caprices of a godfather without demonstrable evidence that we are wrong?”
Dogara emerged Speaker against the popular desire of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, who aligned with the desire of its National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who wanted Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, presently the Majority Leader of the lower legislative chambers as Speaker.
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