By: Manoah Kikekon
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| The Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor of Edo State Monday Okpebholo kneeling down |
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has cautioned second-term governors against selecting successors based solely on loyalty rather than competence. Speaking at the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway commissioning, Akpabio emphasized that choosing unprepared leaders could backfire, leading to betrayal and poor governance.
The event, attended by President Bola Tinubu, Works Minister Dave Umahi, and governors including Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), highlighted the need for visionary leadership. Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom governor, urged All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to prioritize capability over subservience.
"Don’t pick a successor just because they kneel before you," Akpabio warned. "If you hand power to someone unprepared, they will disappoint you this is where betrayals begin." His remarks come amid Nigeria’s long-standing "godfatherism" culture, where outgoing governors often install loyalists as successors, sometimes leading to political fallout.
Akpabio praised President Tinubu’s leadership, urging governors to follow his example by selecting successors with vision, not just blind loyalty. Analysts say his advice reflects growing concerns over proxy leadership, where former governors attempt to control states through handpicked successors, often resulting in instability.
Will governors heed this warning, or will political loyalty continue to trump competence? As Nigeria’s 2027 elections approach, Akpabio’s message could reshape succession strategies.