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Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. - Politics - Nairaland

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Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by Oleys: 4:26pm On Nov 14, 2021
Anambra started on a faulty note in 1999 with the election of Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju. Mbadinuju won on the PDP platform and was sponsored by a political godfather (Sir Emeka Ofor), a billionaire and an oil tycoon.

The godfather ‘invested’ in his political godson Mbadinuju with the hope of recouping his ‘investments’ not to ensure service delivery through infrastructural developments and accelerated standard of living for the citizenry but for the raping and stealing blind of the state funds.

Consequent upon this, many critical infrastructures like roads were left untouched while the state capital, Awka degenerated and wore the look of a glorified village. Civil servants and teachers were owed months and years of salaries till election in 2003. Fortuitously, Mbadinuju was denied a return ticket by his party, PDP but fielded another candidate, Dr Chris Ngige who won.

Election over and the people of Anambra thought they had put the sad woes of godfatherism behind hoping to get a better deal, little did they know they were moving from frying pan to fire. Disagreement over the sharing of state funds broke out between Ngige and the new political godfather (the Uba brothers, Chris and Andy). Chris Uba a semi rich illiterate and his brother Andy, then senior special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo held the state hostage and kidnapped the constitutionally elected governor, Chris Ngige to force him to abide by the initial terms and agreements.

The illegal act backfired as a result of national condemnation till Ngige was restored back to office. During his brief stint in office after breaking away from his godfathers, Ngige embarked on massive construction of roads throughout the entire stretch of the state before he was truncated by the return of Peter Obi to power via a court judgement.

Peter Obi, a man destined to break the yoke of godfatherism.

Till today, no Nigerian politician has faced the type of political battles Peter Obi had to fight when he won the governorship election on APGA. He had to face herculean challenges to restore the mandate freely given to him by the electorate. He was installed the governor on 17 March, 2006 through a court ruling that removed Ngige from office till 2 November 2006 before he was illegally impeached. He went back to court to challenge his impeachment and was returned to office on 9 February 2007 till May 2007.

Obi was yet to complete his term when INEC conducted the gubernatorial election on 29 April, 2007 and declared Andy Uba the winner. Uba was sworn in on May 29th 2007 but spent seventeen days before court gave another landmark ruling that Obi must be allowed to complete his initial four-year term. He was re-appointed on 14 June 2007. He won his re-election and was sworn in on 6 February 2010 for a second term as governor. The election of Obi put paid to the end of godfatherism in Anambra state.

Obi, a prudent and austere administrator for eight years, laid a solid foundation for the take-off of the new Anambra state. It was a moment of new rebirth virtually touching almost all the critical sectors of the economy including construction of rural and feeder roads, education and health sectors, security and urban renewal projects. Among his numerous achievements, he initiated the construction of Anambra International Airport at Umeri to serve as the regional hub for movement of goods and services. He handed over to his successor, Willie Obiano on March 17, 2014.

Enter Willie Obiano

Willie Obiano, a former banker who had a brief stint with Chevron oil company is an accountant but retired as an executive director of Fidelity bank, the financial institution where his predecessor and political associate, Peter Obi has controlling shares. Obiano, an Aguleri man whose area had been dogged with protracted crisis with neighbouring town of Umuleri, made security his priority, and used his experience as a local boy to tame the raging security crisis in all the troubled areas of the state. The notorious upper Iweka in Onitsha that many visitors avoided like plague became a centre of attraction welcoming visitors from all parts of the federation. The state became attractive and investment friendly.

In 2019, the World Bank rated Anambra among the top-5 most improved states in ease of doing business in Nigeria encouraging foreign investments. According to the National Bureau of Statistics report in 2020, Anambra attracted foreign investments worth $10.2 million. The NBS report of 2010 shows that the level of poverty in Anambra state that stood at 53% ten years ago dropped to 14.8% indicating a marginal drop of 35.8%.

Obiano’s re-election severed the good relationship with his predecessor, Obi who left the party from APGA to PDP. Obi supported Oseloka Obaze, the PDP candidate against him but Obiano won convincingly. Obi failed in his bid to reintroduce godfatherism that he fought successfully.

Obiano’s towering legacy project is the completion of Anambra International Airport, Umueri and the 10, 000 capacity International Conference Centre in Awka.

Election of Charles Soludo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declares Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) the winner of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra. Soludo polled a total of 112,229 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 53, 807 to emerge second.

Soludo won in 19 out of the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.

Professor Charles Soludo contested against Obi in 2009 but failed and had to defect to APGA to win this year’s election. The election of Soludo, a first-class economist and a former governor of CBN affirms the superiority of the party over others in Anambra.

The successful conduct of the 2021 governorship election in the midst of confusion, politically motivated killings, IPOB protests, civil unrests and upheavals in the state has once again demonstrated that Anambra is leading in political maturity and democratic ethos. Political analysts should study how APGA, the political party formed many years ago had outlived its late founder, Sir Emeka Ojukwu, to become a formidable and winning party without an established godfather controlling the levers of government.

Anambra has successfully broken the yoke of institutionalised godfatherism that has successfully been established in Lagos which has stifled the needed development because of 22 years of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s domination in Nigeria’s commercial city.

Institutionalised godfatherism in Lagos.

I will define political godfatherism in Nigeria as a system put in place by an individual that has so much influence, power, popularity and financial wherewithal to continually sponsor stooges to political offices to benefit surreptitiously to the detriment of the larger society.

Godfatherism entrenched corruption

The evil of godfatherism are

1. Deep seated corruption.

2. Stiffing and depriving the rights of the electorate to freely choose their leaders.

3. Political domination and slavery.

4. Short-changing of critical developments and abandoned projects

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu fits into this description perfectly in Lagos, he remains the surviving godfather in Nigeria. His words are laws, his brand of godfatherism is known as “Baba sope Baba gbo”.

We had in the past Oloye Olusola Saraki in Kwara state before his son and former senate president Bukola Saraki upstaged his father. Bukola was removed through the O toge revolution. Chief Lamidi Adedibu of the famed “amala politics” held sway in Oyo state before he died.

Before leaving office as governor in 2007, Tinubu entrenched himself both in the critical sectors of the economy to oil his vast political networks. He built a strong political cartel with the planting of his loyalists and acolytes from the grass root to the state levels in all the 57 local capital development centres (LCDA) of the state.

His company, Alpha Beta Consulting (ABC) took over the functions of the state internal revenue board that is constitutionally empowered to collect tax, rates and levies for the government. It is acting as a revenue mobilization and collection advisor to the Lagos State Government which came into existence under him when he was the governor (1999-2007) and charges 10 to 15 percent of the collectible revenues that runs into billions of naira.

He converted choicest and plum government owned landed properties to personal and private use to be shared among his cronies and inner circle associates. For example, the property hosting his TVC television station was built on the publicly owned Lagos state polytechnic. He propped up and engaged political thugs to protect his interests and fight his political battles when the need arises.

Godfatherism breeds street urchins and “Agbero” syndrome

Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, alias Mc Oluomo, currently the chairman of the Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) chapter and the national treasurer is the head of Tinubu’s wing of political thugs. Akinsanya, an illiterate, used his influence to recruit touts and an unruly army of street urchins popularly called “agbero”. These agbero are found in major parks collecting illegal tolls “owo mi da” (where is my money?) that goes into private pockets. They are well protected, operating freely disrupting vehicular, human and commercial activities. Lagos is the only state in Nigeria that condones and protects this anomaly that has been accepted as a norm.

Mc Oluomo created a reign of terror during elections in Lagos. For example, his boys attacked some Igbo indigenes in Okota area in Okota Isolo local government during the 2019 presidential election. For “good services” rendered in Lagos, he was transported and ‘shipped’ to Osun state to create another mayhem in the 2018 run off governorship election that produced Tinubu’s nephew, Gboyega Oyetola as governor of Osun state. Lagos is currently filled with unemployed and layabout youths building fiefdoms all over the city, collecting illegal levies unhindered on major roads.

This king of agbero is so rich and well connected that he buys properties for his harem of wives and concubines without batting an eye and conveniently sponsors his children’s education abroad.

Election of Ambode a product of godfatherism, anathema to democracy

Tinubu singlehandedly anointed all his successors since 2007, from Babatunde Fashola to Akinwunmi Ambode and the current governor, Babajide Sanwoolu. He has perfected the art of building a political cartel like the Italian Mafiosi of the 60s, ensures law of omerta and subservience to pick a political neophyte that will not be able to tilt or rock his established political structure.

The successors are made to abide by a four-year term deal that will not be renewed but was arm-twisted by political stakeholders to give Fashola a second term because of his sterling performance.

Despite Lagos having the highest IGR of N418.99 billion in the fourth quarter of in 2020 compared to Anambra paltry sum of N28.01 billion, Lagos state, a city slum is faced with development deficits like lack of good roads, portable water, electricity, deplorable heath conditions, environmental pollution, dilapidating educational facilities to mention a few. Lagos is currently faced with a law of diminishing returns with cosmetic achievements in maintaining existing structures and few capital projects undertaken by the state government.

Political rivalry through the succession crisis hampers developments in Lagos state. For example, the imposition of Akinwunmi Ambode by Tinubu over Fashola’s choice of successor, Supo Shonibare stalled many developmental and legacy projects.

For example, when he was sworn in, for the next four years, Ambode deliberately abandoned his successor’s ongoing critical road networks projects like Agric/Ashawo/Asolo road that was meant to link Arepo in Ogun state, the Igbogbo Baiyeku road where houses demolished was abandoned making roads impassable leaving the residents in miserable and harrowing experiences.

Another sore point of the Ambode administration was the cancellation of the PSP programme in the management and disposing of wastes and refuse but replaced with the appointment of Visionscape, a relatively unknown company that has no track record.

The incompetent company turned Lagos into dump sites before it was cancelled but this dubious arrangement led to the loss of N85 billion. This huge sum of money would have revamped the comatose and non-existent heath and deplorable educational facilities in Lagos. Till date, no one has been found guilty over this botched project while Ambode and his cohorts are walking free. If electorates were allowed to make choices, Ambode would probably not have occupied the Alausa house but the benevolence of “Baba sope Baba gbo” made it happen.

The ambitious urban light rail project by Fashola’s administration that is undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC or the Okokomaiko-Iddo-Marina Line that was meant to be completed in 2011 is still ongoing. Ambode deliberately stalled it, causing the state to incur additional funds due to cost variations of the project.

Another drainpipe is the abandonment of Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (HOMS). As if all these criminal malfeasances are not enough, we are daily inundated with different monumental corruption cases of magnitude proportions involving the godfather and his foot soldiers.

Godfatherism entrenched corruption

The official cover up of N100 billion fraud, money laundering and tax evasion of Tinubu’s Alpha Beta Consulting made by former Managing Director Mr Dapo Apara is still fresh. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC have refused to act on the petition submitted by Mr Apara.

The movement of a bullion van containing an undisclosed huge amount of money belonging to Tinubu that contravenes the Nigerian anti money laundering laws which places a cap of N5 million on cash handling by individuals has not been investigated. Recently, Tinubu was recuperating in a UK home which was seized from a Nigerian fugitive, Kola Aluko. Details emerged that he used his nephew governor of Osun state, Gboyega Oyetola as a front to buy the property that is still subject to litigation in court of law below the market price.

Some of his political sons have been fingered in certificate scandals and grand scale corruption. For example, Mudashiru Obasa, the speaker of Lagos state house of assembly, has been fingered in a certificate forgery scandal and allegation of self-enrichment owning more than 40 properties in Lagos alone.



Godfatherism discourages economy development and industrialisation

The grand scale corruption in all facets of life in Lagos has left the city to be reeking under the yoke of godfatherism. Road transportation is the only viable means of transportation hence the absence of good roads, motorable feeder roads and lack of drainages contributes to incessant traffic gridlocks. In addition, owing to increasing operating costs, multiple levies and taxes, many big industries have left Lagos to the neighbouring Ogun state. Industrial corridors of Ikeja, Ilupeju, Amuwo Odofin, Matori, Kirikiri are fast fading away with big companies closing shop. There is an emerging trend and gradual transformation of these industrial axes to religious centres and residential estates.

According to data provided by Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) published by Business Day, Ogun dwarfs Lagos in new real sector investments by 23% between 2014 and 2019. The report further said the constant harassment of corporate organisations to collect multiples taxes (television and radio), land and ticket levies, LASAA have driven small and medium scale to the neighbouring Ogun state. Among other factors are Apapa port congestion and incessant traffic gridlocks.

Furthermore, according to a report conducted by presidential enabling business environment council (PEBEC) chaired by vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Gombe, Sokoto topped the list of 36 states in ease of doing business while Anambra and Lagos are 7th and 20th respectively.

The survey was conducted in conjunction with NEC secretariat, the Nigeria’s governor’s forum, the NBS, NIPC, NEPC and NESG between November 2020 and January, 2021. Gombe has 7.68, Sokoto came second with 6.88. Anambra 6.35 while Lagos is 5.28.

In the education report released by the West African Examination Council in 2019, Anambra came second after Abia state while Lagos is in fourth position among the best performing states.

Conclusion

Godfatherism is evil, it stifles and antithetical to development in the modern era. It is archaic and another form of modern-day slavery. While absolute power corrupts absolutely, Lagos must wean herself from it to free public funds for critical developments that are leaking to private pockets. The people of Lagos should emulate Anambra state that has successfully killed godfatherism otherwise godfatherism will kill Lagos state.

https://olumuyiwa.com.ng/2021/11/14/like-anambra-lagos-must-kill-godfatherism-or-else-pics/

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by Golan007: 4:27pm On Nov 14, 2021
Anambra??

5 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by drealcivilceno(m): 4:28pm On Nov 14, 2021
You can't kill Godfatherism... Someone must always fill that position.

6 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by NOC1(m): 4:33pm On Nov 14, 2021
There is no election won without stakeholders, God fatherism is part of politics everywhere, even if it is coming through fundraising or any means, people sponsored the election and you must play to their bidding for you to have a smooth reign.

How was Godfatherism murdered in Anambra election?

8 Likes 1 Share

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by IgweOfNnewi: 4:36pm On Nov 14, 2021
Obaino is godmother I guess.

if there is no godfather, maduka will have won the election instead of Soludo, soludo have contested election before but he didn't win but I am sure obaino will have given Soludo conditions to support him, only a mischievous slow imps will say Anambra state killed godfatherism despite it was obvious that obaino supported Soludo to become governor

12 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by christistruth01: 4:39pm On Nov 14, 2021
Go and ask Edo People What's up with Obaseki

4 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by Aksnoopy: 4:43pm On Nov 14, 2021
Lmao

4 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by duro4chang(m): 5:03pm On Nov 14, 2021
So peter obi is dead politically?

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by SonofDevil: 5:15pm On Nov 14, 2021
Oleys:
Anambra started on a faulty note in 1999 with the election of Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju. Mbadinuju won on the PDP platform and was sponsored by a political godfather (Sir Emeka Ofor), a billionaire and an oil tycoon.

The godfather ‘invested’ in his political godson Mbadinuju with the hope of recouping his ‘investments’ not to ensure service delivery through infrastructural developments and accelerated standard of living for the citizenry but for the raping and stealing blind of the state funds.

Consequent upon this, many critical infrastructures like roads were left untouched while the state capital, Awka degenerated and wore the look of a glorified village. Civil servants and teachers were owed months and years of salaries till election in 2003. Fortuitously, Mbadinuju was denied a return ticket by his party, PDP but fielded another candidate, Dr Chris Ngige who won.

Election over and the people of Anambra thought they had put the sad woes of godfatherism behind hoping to get a better deal, little did they know they were moving from frying pan to fire. Disagreement over the sharing of state funds broke out between Ngige and the new political godfather (the Uba brothers, Chris and Andy). Chris Uba a semi rich illiterate and his brother Andy, then senior special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo held the state hostage and kidnapped the constitutionally elected governor, Chris Ngige to force him to abide by the initial terms and agreements.

The illegal act backfired as a result of national condemnation till Ngige was restored back to office. During his brief stint in office after breaking away from his godfathers, Ngige embarked on massive construction of roads throughout the entire stretch of the state before he was truncated by the return of Peter Obi to power via a court judgement.

Peter Obi, a man destined to break the yoke of godfatherism.

Till today, no Nigerian politician has faced the type of political battles Peter Obi had to fight when he won the governorship election on APGA. He had to face herculean challenges to restore the mandate freely given to him by the electorate. He was installed the governor on 17 March, 2006 through a court ruling that removed Ngige from office till 2 November 2006 before he was illegally impeached. He went back to court to challenge his impeachment and was returned to office on 9 February 2007 till May 2007.

Obi was yet to complete his term when INEC conducted the gubernatorial election on 29 April, 2007 and declared Andy Uba the winner. Uba was sworn in on May 29th 2007 but spent seventeen days before court gave another landmark ruling that Obi must be allowed to complete his initial four-year term. He was re-appointed on 14 June 2007. He won his re-election and was sworn in on 6 February 2010 for a second term as governor. The election of Obi put paid to the end of godfatherism in Anambra state.

Obi, a prudent and austere administrator for eight years, laid a solid foundation for the take-off of the new Anambra state. It was a moment of new rebirth virtually touching almost all the critical sectors of the economy including construction of rural and feeder roads, education and health sectors, security and urban renewal projects. Among his numerous achievements, he initiated the construction of Anambra International Airport at Umeri to serve as the regional hub for movement of goods and services. He handed over to his successor, Willie Obiano on March 17, 2014.

Enter Willie Obiano

Willie Obiano, a former banker who had a brief stint with Chevron oil company is an accountant but retired as an executive director of Fidelity bank, the financial institution where his predecessor and political associate, Peter Obi has controlling shares. Obiano, an Aguleri man whose area had been dogged with protracted crisis with neighbouring town of Umuleri, made security his priority, and used his experience as a local boy to tame the raging security crisis in all the troubled areas of the state. The notorious upper Iweka in Onitsha that many visitors avoided like plague became a centre of attraction welcoming visitors from all parts of the federation. The state became attractive and investment friendly.

In 2019, the World Bank rated Anambra among the top-5 most improved states in ease of doing business in Nigeria encouraging foreign investments. According to the National Bureau of Statistics report in 2020, Anambra attracted foreign investments worth $10.2 million. The NBS report of 2010 shows that the level of poverty in Anambra state that stood at 53% ten years ago dropped to 14.8% indicating a marginal drop of 35.8%.

Obiano’s re-election severed the good relationship with his predecessor, Obi who left the party from APGA to PDP. Obi supported Oseloka Obaze, the PDP candidate against him but Obiano won convincingly. Obi failed in his bid to reintroduce godfatherism that he fought successfully.

Obiano’s towering legacy project is the completion of Anambra International Airport, Umueri and the 10, 000 capacity International Conference Centre in Awka.

Election of Charles Soludo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declares Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) the winner of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra. Soludo polled a total of 112,229 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 53, 807 to emerge second.

Soludo won in 19 out of the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.

Professor Charles Soludo contested against Obi in 2009 but failed and had to defect to APGA to win this year’s election. The election of Soludo, a first-class economist and a former governor of CBN affirms the superiority of the party over others in Anambra.

The successful conduct of the 2021 governorship election in the midst of confusion, politically motivated killings, IPOB protests, civil unrests and upheavals in the state has once again demonstrated that Anambra is leading in political maturity and democratic ethos. Political analysts should study how APGA, the political party formed many years ago had outlived its late founder, Sir Emeka Ojukwu, to become a formidable and winning party without an established godfather controlling the levers of government.

Anambra has successfully broken the yoke of institutionalised godfatherism that has successfully been established in Lagos which has stifled the needed development because of 22 years of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s domination in Nigeria’s commercial city.

Institutionalised godfatherism in Lagos.

I will define political godfatherism in Nigeria as a system put in place by an individual that has so much influence, power, popularity and financial wherewithal to continually sponsor stooges to political offices to benefit surreptitiously to the detriment of the larger society.

Godfatherism entrenched corruption

The evil of godfatherism are

1. Deep seated corruption.

2. Stiffing and depriving the rights of the electorate to freely choose their leaders.

3. Political domination and slavery.

4. Short-changing of critical developments and abandoned projects

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu fits into this description perfectly in Lagos, he remains the surviving godfather in Nigeria. His words are laws, his brand of godfatherism is known as “Baba sope Baba gbo”.

We had in the past Oloye Olusola Saraki in Kwara state before his son and former senate president Bukola Saraki upstaged his father. Bukola was removed through the O toge revolution. Chief Lamidi Adedibu of the famed “amala politics” held sway in Oyo state before he died.

Before leaving office as governor in 2007, Tinubu entrenched himself both in the critical sectors of the economy to oil his vast political networks. He built a strong political cartel with the planting of his loyalists and acolytes from the grass root to the state levels in all the 57 local capital development centres (LCDA) of the state.

His company, Alpha Beta Consulting (ABC) took over the functions of the state internal revenue board that is constitutionally empowered to collect tax, rates and levies for the government. It is acting as a revenue mobilization and collection advisor to the Lagos State Government which came into existence under him when he was the governor (1999-2007) and charges 10 to 15 percent of the collectible revenues that runs into billions of naira.

He converted choicest and plum government owned landed properties to personal and private use to be shared among his cronies and inner circle associates. For example, the property hosting his TVC television station was built on the publicly owned Lagos state polytechnic. He propped up and engaged political thugs to protect his interests and fight his political battles when the need arises.

Godfatherism breeds street urchins and “Agbero” syndrome

Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, alias Mc Oluomo, currently the chairman of the Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) chapter and the national treasurer is the head of Tinubu’s wing of political thugs. Akinsanya, an illiterate, used his influence to recruit touts and an unruly army of street urchins popularly called “agbero”. These agbero are found in major parks collecting illegal tolls “owo mi da” (where is my money?) that goes into private pockets. They are well protected, operating freely disrupting vehicular, human and commercial activities. Lagos is the only state in Nigeria that condones and protects this anomaly that has been accepted as a norm.

Mc Oluomo created a reign of terror during elections in Lagos. For example, his boys attacked some Igbo indigenes in Okota area in Okota Isolo local government during the 2019 presidential election. For “good services” rendered in Lagos, he was transported and ‘shipped’ to Osun state to create another mayhem in the 2018 run off governorship election that produced Tinubu’s nephew, Gboyega Oyetola as governor of Osun state. Lagos is currently filled with unemployed and layabout youths building fiefdoms all over the city, collecting illegal levies unhindered on major roads.

This king of agbero is so rich and well connected that he buys properties for his harem of wives and concubines without batting an eye and conveniently sponsors his children’s education abroad.

Election of Ambode a product of godfatherism, anathema to democracy

Tinubu singlehandedly anointed all his successors since 2007, from Babatunde Fashola to Akinwunmi Ambode and the current governor, Babajide Sanwoolu. He has perfected the art of building a political cartel like the Italian Mafiosi of the 60s, ensures law of omerta and subservience to pick a political neophyte that will not be able to tilt or rock his established political structure.

The successors are made to abide by a four-year term deal that will not be renewed but was arm-twisted by political stakeholders to give Fashola a second term because of his sterling performance.

Despite Lagos having the highest IGR of N418.99 billion in the fourth quarter of in 2020 compared to Anambra paltry sum of N28.01 billion, Lagos state, a city slum is faced with development deficits like lack of good roads, portable water, electricity, deplorable heath conditions, environmental pollution, dilapidating educational facilities to mention a few. Lagos is currently faced with a law of diminishing returns with cosmetic achievements in maintaining existing structures and few capital projects undertaken by the state government.

Political rivalry through the succession crisis hampers developments in Lagos state. For example, the imposition of Akinwunmi Ambode by Tinubu over Fashola’s choice of successor, Supo Shonibare stalled many developmental and legacy projects.

For example, when he was sworn in, for the next four years, Ambode deliberately abandoned his successor’s ongoing critical road networks projects like Agric/Ashawo/Asolo road that was meant to link Arepo in Ogun state, the Igbogbo Baiyeku road where houses demolished was abandoned making roads impassable leaving the residents in miserable and harrowing experiences.

Another sore point of the Ambode administration was the cancellation of the PSP programme in the management and disposing of wastes and refuse but replaced with the appointment of Visionscape, a relatively unknown company that has no track record.

The incompetent company turned Lagos into dump sites before it was cancelled but this dubious arrangement led to the loss of N85 billion. This huge sum of money would have revamped the comatose and non-existent heath and deplorable educational facilities in Lagos. Till date, no one has been found guilty over this botched project while Ambode and his cohorts are walking free. If electorates were allowed to make choices, Ambode would probably not have occupied the Alausa house but the benevolence of “Baba sope Baba gbo” made it happen.

The ambitious urban light rail project by Fashola’s administration that is undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC or the Okokomaiko-Iddo-Marina Line that was meant to be completed in 2011 is still ongoing. Ambode deliberately stalled it, causing the state to incur additional funds due to cost variations of the project.

Another drainpipe is the abandonment of Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (HOMS). As if all these criminal malfeasances are not enough, we are daily inundated with different monumental corruption cases of magnitude proportions involving the godfather and his foot soldiers.

Godfatherism entrenched corruption

The official cover up of N100 billion fraud, money laundering and tax evasion of Tinubu’s Alpha Beta Consulting made by former Managing Director Mr Dapo Apara is still fresh. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC have refused to act on the petition submitted by Mr Apara.

The movement of a bullion van containing an undisclosed huge amount of money belonging to Tinubu that contravenes the Nigerian anti money laundering laws which places a cap of N5 million on cash handling by individuals has not been investigated. Recently, Tinubu was recuperating in a UK home which was seized from a Nigerian fugitive, Kola Aluko. Details emerged that he used his nephew governor of Osun state, Gboyega Oyetola as a front to buy the property that is still subject to litigation in court of law below the market price.

Some of his political sons have been fingered in certificate scandals and grand scale corruption. For example, Mudashiru Obasa, the speaker of Lagos state house of assembly, has been fingered in a certificate forgery scandal and allegation of self-enrichment owning more than 40 properties in Lagos alone.



Godfatherism discourages economy development and industrialisation

The grand scale corruption in all facets of life in Lagos has left the city to be reeking under the yoke of godfatherism. Road transportation is the only viable means of transportation hence the absence of good roads, motorable feeder roads and lack of drainages contributes to incessant traffic gridlocks. In addition, owing to increasing operating costs, multiple levies and taxes, many big industries have left Lagos to the neighbouring Ogun state. Industrial corridors of Ikeja, Ilupeju, Amuwo Odofin, Matori, Kirikiri are fast fading away with big companies closing shop. There is an emerging trend and gradual transformation of these industrial axes to religious centres and residential estates.

According to data provided by Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) published by Business Day, Ogun dwarfs Lagos in new real sector investments by 23% between 2014 and 2019. The report further said the constant harassment of corporate organisations to collect multiples taxes (television and radio), land and ticket levies, LASAA have driven small and medium scale to the neighbouring Ogun state. Among other factors are Apapa port congestion and incessant traffic gridlocks.

Furthermore, according to a report conducted by presidential enabling business environment council (PEBEC) chaired by vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Gombe, Sokoto topped the list of 36 states in ease of doing business while Anambra and Lagos are 7th and 20th respectively.

The survey was conducted in conjunction with NEC secretariat, the Nigeria’s governor’s forum, the NBS, NIPC, NEPC and NESG between November 2020 and January, 2021. Gombe has 7.68, Sokoto came second with 6.88. Anambra 6.35 while Lagos is 5.28.

In the education report released by the West African Examination Council in 2019, Anambra came second after Abia state while Lagos is in fourth position among the best performing states.

Conclusion

Godfatherism is evil, it stifles and antithetical to development in the modern era. It is archaic and another form of modern-day slavery. While absolute power corrupts absolutely, Lagos must wean herself from it to free public funds for critical developments that are leaking to private pockets. The people of Lagos should emulate Anambra state that has successfully killed godfatherism otherwise godfatherism will kill Lagos state.

https://olumuyiwa.com.ng/2021/11/14/like-anambra-lagos-must-kill-godfatherism-or-else-pics/

obiano to soludo is what?

Can soludo win agpa primary without obiano?
Even with obiano backing him he faced troubles from other apga factions. All the court process from state high to court to supreme court do you think its cheap?
Soludo is obiano stooge.
Obiano spent anambra treasury for court cases and to bribing voters

7 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by vanbonattel: 5:18pm On Nov 14, 2021
SonofDevil:
obiano to soludo is what?

Can soludo win agpa primary without obiano?
Even with obiano backing him he faced troubles from other apga factions. All the court process from state high to court to supreme court do you think its cheap?
Soludo is obiano stooge.
Obiano spent anambra treasury for court cases and to bribing voters

Obiano can never be a godfather in anambra.
He only made sure Soludo got the ticket because of his conviction that the candidate will represent well. If he tries to interfere in the government, what happened to Sullivan will happen to him.

1 Like

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by ba7man(m): 5:35pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


Obiano can never be a godfather in anambra.
He only made sure Soludo got the ticket because of his conviction that the candidate will represent well.
This is exactly what political Godfathers do.

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Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by vanbonattel: 5:37pm On Nov 14, 2021
ba7man:
This is exactly what political Godfathers do.


And this is what Obi did. Was Obi a godfather to Obiano?

1 Like

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by SonofDevil: 5:40pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


Obiano can never be a godfather in anambra.
He only made sure Soludo got the ticket because of his conviction that the candidate will represent well. If he tries to interfere in the government, what happened to Sullivan will happen to him.
My Friend go and sit down. Godfather is there to ensure your smooth sail to victory. Soludo can't do without obiano interference in the electoral process.

Before he supported soludo do you know the agreement that must have signed in secret?
You think the money obiano spent on court cases is free right?
soludo is there to cover his Godfather loot and pay back royalties.
He will definitely betray obiano just like obiano betrayed obi

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Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by vanbonattel: 5:42pm On Nov 14, 2021
SonofDevil:
My Friend go and sit down. Before he supported soludo do you know the agreement that must have signed in secret?
You think the money obiano spent on court cases is free right?
soludo is there to cover his Godfather loot and pay back royalties.
He will definitely betray obiano just like obiano betrayed obi

Your last sentence made a mockery of every other thing you wrote grin

If Obiano knows that Soludo will betray him and still fought for him, then it's not godfatherism anymore. This is party loyalty.
Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by SonofDevil: 5:49pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


Your last sentence made a mockery of every other thing you wrote grin

If Obiano knows that Soludo will betray him and still fought for him, then it's not godfatherism anymore. This is party loyalty.
that is the kind of politics you play in alaigbo .betrayal politics.
Thats why you have no politcal influence in Nigeria

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Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by vanbonattel: 5:50pm On Nov 14, 2021
SonofDevil:
that is the kind of politics you play in alaigbo .betrayal politics.
Thats why you have no politcal influence in Nigeria

And that's also why we have nobody loading 2 bullion vans with raw cash grin

As long as we have no godfathers, we're good.

1 Like

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by adamsmith914: 5:51pm On Nov 14, 2021
IgweOfNnewi:
Obaino is godmother I guess.

if there is no godfather, maduka will have won the election instead of Soludo, soludo have contested election before but he didn't win but I am sure obaino will have given Soludo conditions to support him, only a mischievous slow imps will say Anambra state killed godfatherism despite it was obvious that obaino supported Soludo to because governor
Don’t mind that daft Daffy Duck. Mumurist, hard to believe someone took so much time to type that rubbish? Must have copied & pasted it from one of their Biafra blogs. Nonsense.

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Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by helinues: 5:52pm On Nov 14, 2021
Lagos state is not in the same league with Anambra state

Know that and have peace

9 Likes 1 Share

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by vanbonattel: 5:54pm On Nov 14, 2021
adamsmith914:
Don’t mind that daft Daffy Duck. Mumurist, hard to believe someone took so much time to type that rubbish? Must have copied & pasted it from one of their Biafra blogs. Nonsense.

You either tell us of a single godfather in Igboland or you walk away.

Igbos are not on your level.

1 Like

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by adamsmith914: 5:54pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


And that's also why we have nobody loading 2 bullion vans with raw cash grin

As long as we have no godfathers, we're good.
Poverty is your problem, as a man thinketh, So is he. Bullion van that brings money to the office? You have to think rich to become rich, that is why we avoid peasants like you.

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Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by vanbonattel: 5:55pm On Nov 14, 2021
adamsmith914:
Poverty is your problem, Bullion van that brings money to the office? You have to think rich to become rich, that is why we avoid peasants like you.

Tell that to the hungry village woman selling pepper at okokomaiko grin

She will appreciate your comments better.
Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by adamsmith914: 5:58pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


You either tell us of a single godfather in Igboland or you walk away.

Igbos are not on your level.
Ikenga Mazi Kanu is the real Vito Corleone, brainwashed Mumudeys.

4 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by aryzgreat: 5:58pm On Nov 14, 2021
Thank God na Olumuyiwa write am. Before Afonja seeing Anambra analogy will start convulsing
Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by adamsmith914: 6:01pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


Tell that to the hungry village woman selling pepper at okokomaiko grin

She will appreciate your comments better.
The women from East of the River Niger selling @ okokomaiko that came to Lagos state to find greener pastures like your Fulani cousins from up North?

7 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by adamsmith914: 6:05pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


Tell that to the hungry village woman selling pepper at okokomaiko grin

She will appreciate your comments better.
Like I said earlier we avoid peasants like you that have a very poor mentality which only translates to the physical materially, you couldn’t use Tiwa Savage for example, it is market Women in okokomaiko that came to that your coconut head?

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by SonofDevil: 6:05pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


And that's also why we have nobody loading 2 bullion vans with raw cash grin

As long as we have no godfathers, we're good.
but the bullion van man state is mecca to you nyamiris.

Nyamiris prefer this kind of looting

7 Likes 1 Share

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by vanbonattel: 6:05pm On Nov 14, 2021
adamsmith914:
The women from East of the River Niger selling @ okokomaiko that came to Lagos state to find greener pastures like your Fulani cousins from up North?

There are no south west people living in Lagos anymore? grin

1 Like

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by adamsmith914: 6:07pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


There are no south west people living in Lagos anymore? grin
We are talking of the market women from the East in Lagos State, not South west Eyinloja.

4 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by adamsmith914: 6:09pm On Nov 14, 2021
vanbonattel:


You either tell us of a single godfather in Igboland or you walk away.

Igbos are not on your level.
We know, If it is you, the bullion van will be for Pablo Escobar Medellin Cartel business, To traffic it in tonnes, no more Kilos, Get rich or die trying is the motto?

4 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by paramakina202: 6:23pm On Nov 14, 2021
IgweOfNnewi:
Obaino is godmother I guess.

if there is no godfather, maduka will have won the election instead of Soludo, soludo have contested election before but he didn't win but I am sure obaino will have given Soludo conditions to support him, only a mischievous slow imps will say Anambra state killed godfatherism despite it was obvious that obaino supported Soludo to because governor

Even Peter Obi has Ojukwu as his political godfather but the difference was,Ojukwu was not taking 10% cut from Anambra state allocation like in Lagos state(ALPHA BETA) etc... and I believe Soludo will not share Anambra state allocation with godfathers.

4 Likes

Re: Like Anambra, Lagos Must Kill Godfatherism Or Else….. by Penguin2: 6:46pm On Nov 14, 2021
I’ve seen zombies arguing up there instead of calming down to read what the Op enunciated in his post.

Lagos has consistently been underperforming for a state that generates the kind of revenue it does.

Lagos should have no business with the nefarious elements called agbero if it wants to compete with its fellow metropolitan cities world over.

You can’t find such stupid social irritants in London or New York or even Jo’burg.

Until Lagos dislodges Tinubu and his Baba Sope politics, it will continue to underperform.

But zombies will always argue because they have no brain of their own.

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