Episode Details

Nigeria’s Fourth Republic was designed to strengthen democracy after military rule, but over time godfatherism became deeply embedded in the political system.

Across states such as Abuja, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Kwara, and Kogi, powerful political figures have sponsored successors only for relationships to collapse into bitter rivalries once power changed hands, as seen in cases like Obasanjo–Atiku, Ganduje–Kwankwaso, Wike–Amaechi, Wike–Fubara, and Obaseki–Oshiomhole. 

To mark this year’s Daily Trust Annual Dialogue, today’s episode of Nigeria Daily examines godfatherism as one of the defining fallouts of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.