Senate President Godswill Akpabio has cautioned second-term governors, particularly those in the All Progressives Congress (APC), to exercise discernment in selecting their successors, warning against handing over power to loyalists lacking vision and preparation.
Speaking on Saturday at the commissioning of the first 30 kilometres of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Lekki, Lagos, Akpabio advised governors not to base their choices on blind loyalty or subservience, which he said often leads to post-tenure betrayal.
“We have a president who has both sight and vision. And this for me is something I must advise our governors, particularly those of them who are in their second term. Do not give power to anybody who is not looking for power. Don’t give power to anybody who is not prepared,” Akpabio said.
In an apparent critique of political godfatherism, he added, “Don’t go hiding in your heart that this boy is very subservient; he is always kneeling when he is talking to me, his wife is always rolling on the floor, I think I should make this one the governor. If you do that, you are giving power to somebody who is not prepared for governance and they will disappoint you. This is where betrayals normally start.”
The Senate President’s comments come against the backdrop of a common trend in Nigerian politics, where outgoing governors attempt to install successors to maintain influence beyond their tenure. While some manage to establish loyal successors, many political relationships sour, leading to public fallouts.
The event was attended by President Bola Tinubu; Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka; Ministers Wale Edun (Finance) and Dave Umahi (Works); and several second-term governors, including Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun).
Akpabio praised Tinubu’s leadership style, describing him as a visionary leader and encouraging APC governors to emulate the President’s foresight in governance and succession planning.
“For the progressive governors, I believe that all of you are doing well because you are being led by a man who has both sight and vision,” he concluded.
What You Should Know
Senate President Akpabio’s remarks serve as a pointed warning to second-term governors about the risks of elevating unqualified loyalists to positions of power.
In Nigeria’s political landscape, godfatherism often backfires when those handpicked for loyalty reveal an inability—or unwillingness—to lead effectively.
