Godfatherism Hindering Edo South Senatorial District’s Development, Group Cries Out
By Franklin Onome
A group known as Professionals in Politics has opined that both the All Progressive Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have failed in curbing the menace of Godfatherism in Edo South Senatorial District, and from all indications, this has affected development in the District as people-oriented representation is no longer a priority.
Speaking to select journalists in Benin on Friday, The group’s President, I made Ojo, said, “We must all rise to condemn the perennial issue of Godfatherism in Edo South Senatorial District, as we enter another electioneering year. We must put an end to the culture of where some old politicians will sit in their parochial armchairs at home and endorse candidates even before they unveil their manifesto.”
“The Godfatherism syndrome being practiced in some part of the state is regrettable and it is an undemocratic practice that has hindered many political office holders from delivering their electoral promises.”
He pointed out that the Godfatherism syndrome had presently limited many elected officeholders from carrying out their constitutional duties wherein they are teleguided through secret arrangements they enter before they emerge. He also said that the issue of Godfatherism has prevented several new, capable hands from entering the political space as they are not given access by the gatekeepers.
Going further, the group stated that such undemocratic, redundant practice has been institutionalized in Edo South Senatorial District by major power brokers and emphasized that although the syndrome is not peculiar to Edo South alone, their interest is to help stop it here so that new competent blood could be injected into the political space for meaningful development to ensue.
“We want Godfatherism to stop in Edo South Senatorial District, as we can see, it is stalling development. We want new, young, resourceful, competent, and dynamic individuals to be able to come to take the mantle of leadership so that they can bring their expertise and knowledge acquisition to the district for development. Times are changing, we must be in sync with modern trends. Let the godfathers in our political space by the ordinary electorates like the traders, farmers, youths, bus drivers, teachers, pensioners, pastors, imams, artisans, etcetera. These are the people of the district with the legitimacy to be our Godfathers and to whom political office holders, from the Councilors at the LGAs to the Senators at the National Assembly shall be answerable to.”
The President further advised that before candidates are voted for, their manifestos must be seen and thoroughly interrogated with a keen interest in its workability.
