User:Watercheetah99/Godfather (Nigerian politics)
In Nigerian politics, a political godfather (also known simply as a godfather, alternatively as a kingmaker, or colloquially as an oga) is the term for a political figure who uses a mix of bribery, campaign strategy, co-opted or allied criminal gangs, electoral fraud, judicial corruption, parochialism, and vote buying to establish patronage networks in order to control politics in a particular area. Godfatherism is the term for the neopatrimonial system surrounding the practice. The female equivalent is political godmother and godmotherism while junior benefactors of the system are referred to as godsons and goddaughters.[1]
Etymology and definition
[edit]In a BBC Focus on Africa piece in 2003, political scientist Jibrin Ibrahim — the future Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development — noted that the term "godfather" came directly from the word's use as a synonym for crime boss, specifically in reference to mafia leaders' influential role in Chicago politics in the interwar period.[2] The term godfatherism has been used to specifically describe the influence system of Nigeria political elites as early as the 1970s.
As defined by Human Rights Watch, godfathers "are individuals whose power stems not just from wealth but from their ability to deploy violence and corruption to manipulate national, state or local political systems in support of the politicians they sponsor...In return, they demand a substantial degree of control over the governments they help bring into being - not in order to shape government policy, but to exact direct financial "returns" in the form of government resources stolen by their [protégés] or lucrative government contracts awarded to them as further opportunities for graft."[3] More simply, Ibrahim defined godfathers as "men who have the power personally to determine both who gets nominated to contest elections and who wins in a state."[2]
Effects
[edit]- "mother of corruption in Nigeria."[4] (change journal)
- oil bunkering and the Niger Delta conflict (Barnett + podcast episode)
- https://guardian.ng/opinion/godfatherism-the-cancer-in-our-political-leadership/
- https://www.hrw.org/reports/2007/nigeria0107/nigeria0107webwcover.pdf
- https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/162155481.pdf
- https://www.theafricareport.com/313953/nigerias-powerful-northern-muslim-elite-is-intricately-interconnected/
- https://www.eisa.org/storage/2023/05/2011-journal-of-african-elections-v10n1-political-corruption-democratisation-squandering-hope-nigeria-eisa.pdf
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/26393309?seq=5
- https://www.refworld.org/docid/4738691264.html
- https://www.acjol.org/index.php/ochendo/article/download/3562/3486
- https://www.dawodu.com/ogbonmwan1.htm
List
[edit]North-Central
[edit]| Political godfather (period of control) |
Public Office(s) | Sphere(s) of influence | Political parties | Notable "godchildren" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Akume[5] (after 2007) |
Governor of Benue State (1999—2007) Senator for Benue North-West (2007—2019) Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs (2019—2023) Secretary to the Government of the Federation (2023—present) |
Benue State | Actively associated: | |
| Estranged: | ||||
| Yahaya Bello[13] (after 2019) |
Governor of Kogi State (2016—present) | Kogi State |
|
Actively associated: |
| Estranged: | ||||
| Olusola Saraki[18][19][20][21][22] (1970s to 2012) |
Senator (1979—1983) | Kwara State Kogi State (lesser) |
Actively associated (at time of death): | |
| Estranged: | ||||
| Bukola Saraki[25][19] (after 2011) |
Governor of Kwara State (2003—2011) Senator for Kwara Central (2011—2019) President of the Senate (2015—2019) |
Kwara State | Actively associated: | |
| Estranged: | ||||
| Solomon Lar (after) |
Member of Parliament (1960—1966) Governor of Plateau State (1979—1983) Minister of Police Affairs (1993—1994) Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (1998—2002) |
Plateau State | Actively associated: | |
| Estranged: | ||||
| [[]] (after) |
Governor of DDDDDDDDDDDDDD State (TTTTTORNINEDVO—TTTTTORNINEDVO) | TTTTTORNINEDVO State |
|
Actively associated:
|
Estranged:
| ||||
| [[]] (after) |
Governor of DDDDDDDDDDDDDD State (TTTTTORNINEDVO—TTTTTORNINEDVO) | TTTTTORNINEDVO State |
|
Actively associated:
|
Estranged:
| ||||
| [[]] (after) |
Governor of DDDDDDDDDDDDDD State (TTTTTORNINEDVO—TTTTTORNINEDVO) | TTTTTORNINEDVO State |
|
Actively associated:
|
Estranged:
|
North-East
[edit]North-West
[edit]South-East
[edit]South-South
[edit]South-West
[edit]In other countries
[edit]Africa
[edit]- Democratic Republic of the Congo (example: Joseph Kabila[29])
- Kenya (examples: Daniel arap Moi,[30] Nicholas Biwott[31])
- Mali (example: Mahmoud Dicko[32])
- Niger ((example: Mahamadou Issoufou[33])
- Sudan (example: Hassan al-Turabi[34])
- Zimbabwe (examples: Robert Mugabe,[35] Didymus Mutasa[36])
- Ghana: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Godfatherism-in-Ghanaian-political-space-its-manifestations-and-solutions-845971
- Kenya: https://www.theafricareport.com/67648/kenya-mukhisa-kituyi-former-unctad-boss-eyes-the-presidency/
- South Africa: https://www.theafricareport.com/329281/south-africa-who-is-panyaza-lesufi-gauteng-strongman-with-a-militia/
- Malawi: https://repub.eur.nl/pub/126925/combinepdf.pdf
- Tanzania: https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:2b908550-d067-4a8b-865e-326b0216f77e/download_file?file_format=application%2Fpdf&safe_filename=Dan%2BPaget%2C%2BDPhil%2BThesis%2C%2BThe%2BRally-Intensive%2BGround%2BCampaign%2C%2B2018.pdf&type_of_work=Thesis
- Uganda: https://www.observer.ug/component/content/article?id=34859:-museveni-advisor-state-house-chief-in-fresh-clash-over-job
Rest of the world
[edit]- Brazil (example: Adhemar de Barros[37])
- Colombia (example: Alvaro Uribe[38])
- India (example: Devi Lal[39])
- Italy (example: Giulio Andreotti[40])
- Malaysia (examples: Abdul Razak Hussein,[41] Ahmad Zahid Hamidi[42])
- Mexico (example: Carlos Hank Gonzalez[43][44])
- Spain (example: Jordi Pujol[45])
- Southeast Asia: https://www.amazon.com/Asian-Godfathers-Money-Power-Southeast/dp/0802143911
- Greece: https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/02/archives/despite-their-ruinous-effect-on-economy-political-favors-are-way-of.html
- Hungary: https://hungarytoday.hu/lmp-calls-for-scrutiny-into-gruevski-affair/
- Serbia: https://www.salon.com/2000/09/06/serbia_activists/
- Thailand: https://www.smh.com.au/world/political-godfather-accused-of-murder-20030418-gdgmf0.html https://www.cfr.org/blog/demise-democrat-party-thailand
- Philippines: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2003/11/17/228270/danding-brews-political-plans
Other terms
- ^ Nnana, Chidi. "Nigeria: Enugu in the Throes of Godmotherism". AllAfrica. ThisDay. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ a b "The rise of Nigeria's godfathers". BBC News. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Violence, "Godfathers" and Corruption in Nigeria". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Chukwuemeka, Emma; Oji, R.O.; Chukwurah, D.J.C. (January 2013). "Give Them Their Rights: A Critical Review of Godfather and Godson Politics in Nigeria". Review of Public Administration and Management. 1 (3). doi:10.4172/2315-7844.1000133. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ "Battle of political godfathers, godsons holds Nigerians by the jugular". Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ a b Akinboyo, Temidayo. "ANALYSIS: George Akume: A political strategist, in power since 1999, becomes SGF". Premium Times. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Hope Abah, Emmanuel. "Gov Alia, Akume On Collision Course Over Cabinet Appointments". Daily Trust. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Odufowokan, 'Dare. "2023: Conflicts in Benue, Delta, Kano, others over guber tickets". The Nation. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ a b Fidelis, Mac-Leva; Hope Abah, Emmanuel. "Benue: Akume's Godsons In Fierce Battle To Unseat Ortom". Daily Trust. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Ede, Attah. "Akume remains my godfather, says Ortom". The Punch. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Akintola, Damilola. "Five Godfather-Godson Relationships That Went Sour". Culture Custodian. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Duru, Peter. "Mark/Suswam take on Ayu/Akume". Vanguard. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Abati, Reuben. "The Constitutional Crisis in Kogi". ThisDay. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Agada, Johnson. "TRENDING VIDEO: Kogi senator kneels to appreciate Yahaya Bello for nominating late Audu's son as minister". TheCable. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Jimoh, Yekini. "After God, Yahaya Bello my political godfather — Ex-Kogi Speaker". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Fisayo Soyombo [@fisayosoyombo] (November 18, 2023). "A governor grovelling and kneeling before his predecessor is cringeworthy. Chants of 'Yahaya Bello you are a winner' at Usman Ododo's certificate presentation are mortifying. Bello is obviously the de facto governor of Kogi; Ododo is merely his lackey. The poverty and misery that will ravage Kogi in the coming years will be unprecedented. A state in chains" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Governor Yahaya Bello Imposed His Cousin As APC Candidate, Primary Didn't Hold In Kogi – Senator Adeyemi". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Luqman, Saka (2010). "Agent of destruction or development: youth and the politics of violence in Kwara State, Nigeria" (PDF). Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa. 12 (8). ISSN 1520-5509. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ a b Moshood, Saka (2023). "Godfatherism, Party Opposition, Party Coalition, and Party Disunity in Nigeria: A Study of Kwara State from 1999 to 2015" (PDF). Journal of Administrative Science. 20 (1): 150–173. ISSN 2600-9374. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Adepoju, Allan. "Nigeria: Olusola Saraki Playing God". AllAfrica. Vanguard. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Hamzat, Abdulrazaq O. "Opinion: The Past, Present and Future of the Saraki Dynasty". Ilorin Info. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Oladimeji, Debo. "Saraki Dynasty And Ideological Vacuum In Kwara Politics". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Akinyemi, Demola. "Saraki reconciles with son, returns to PDP". Vanguard. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Odusile, Waheed; Essien, Ufot; Ologbondiyan, Kola; Djebah, Oma; Nwachuku, Chris. "PDP's Men of Power". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 2 December 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Shittu, Hammed. "Nigeria: Still the Godfather of Kwara Politics". AllAfrica. ThisDay. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Senate: Bolaji Abdullahi, Rafiu Ibrahim tipped as Kwara PDP consensus candidates". TheCable. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ Sanni, Kunle. "Ex-Kwara governor Abdulfatah Ahmed released after two nights in EFCC custody". Premium Times. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Akinyemi, Demola. "Saraki's cousin defects to APC, joins Gov AbdulRazaq reelection bid in Kwara". Vanguard. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Titeca, Kristof; Thamani, James. "How to get ahead in DR Congo politics: A flatterer's guide". African Arguments. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Kiruga, Morris. "Kenya comes out of lockdown with a set of new managers". The Africa Report. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Ethnic straitjackets". Africa Confidential. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Fisayo-Bambi, Jerry. "Mali: prominent Islamic cleric stirrs up tension [The Morning Call]". Africanews. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Aksar, Moussa; Lewis, David; Gauthier-Villars, David. "Insight: Behind Niger's coup, a feud over the former president's legacy". Reuters. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Jones, Will; Soares de Oliveira, Ricardo; Verhoeven, Harry. "Africa's illiberal state-builders" (PDF). Refugee Studies Centre. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Pheage, Tefo; Mpuang, Letlhogile. "Zimbabwe Gov't blocks Khama's mediation bid". The Botswana Gazette. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Muscling out Mugabe". Africa Confidential. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Cuadros, Alex. ""He Steals, but He Gets Things Done"". Slate. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Margolis, Mac. "The 9 Lives of Colombia's Alvaro Uribe". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Crossette, Barbara. "India's Descent". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Bohlen, Celestine. "The Biggest Trial in Postwar Italy Puts National Psyche in the Dock". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Ismail, Muhamad Takiyuddin; Hamid, Ahmad Fauzi Abdul (1 March 2013). "Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Malaysia's Neo-Conservative Intellectuals". Pacific Affairs. 86 (1): 73–94. doi:10.5509/2013861073. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|A322563427&v=ignored (help) - ^ Welsh, Bridget. "Umno Party Polls: Zahid and the Golkarisation of Umno?". Between the Lines. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Sullivan, Kevin. "Billionaire Power Broker Dies in Mexico". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Tuckman, Jo. "Carlos Hank Gonzalez". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Pérez, Fernando J. "Son of Catalan political godfather moved €32.4 million of undeclared funds". El País. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
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