In Nigerian politics, loyalty is often weaponized, and betrayal is judged not by principle but by preference. We’ve seen this play out repeatedly—where those who made others governors become discarded, yet public reactions vary based on who’s involved.
Take Akinwunmi Ambode for instance. If he had fulfilled all agreements with his godfather, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he likely would have returned for a second term as Lagos State governor. But he didn’t. And because of that, he was denied the APC ticket—effectively removed not by the electorate but by the whims of one man who made him governor.
A similar scenario played out in Edo State. Adams Oshiomhole brought Godwin Obaseki into power, but a fallout between them led to Obaseki’s disqualification from seeking a second term under the APC. Tinubu threw his weight behind Oshiomhole’s decision, and Obaseki was forced to move to the PDP to secure his mandate. This birthed the famous slogan, “Edo No Be Lagos,” a bold resistance to Tinubu’s influence over Edo’s electoral choices.
In Kano, former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso elevated Abdullahi Ganduje to power, despite strong opposition. But after clinching power, Ganduje turned against him and supported Ibrahim Shekarau—Kwankwaso’s old rival. The same Shekarau that Kwankwaso and Ganduje once fought together. A glaring case of political betrayal.
Fast-forward to the present. The same loyalists of Tinubu who demonized Obaseki and praised Oshiomhole, are now praising Uba Sanni while vilifying Nasir El-Rufai—the man who mentored Uba Sanni and helped make him Kaduna State governor. These individuals also bashed Governor Fubara for challenging Wike in Rivers State, labeling him an ingrate. But they don’t extend that same label to Uba Sanni. Why?
The inconsistency is deafening. El-Rufai is accused of desperation for allegedly trying to influence his successor, yet Tinubu did the same in Lagos and Edo without such condemnation. Why is one man’s political control acceptable and another’s desperate?
I am not suggesting El-Rufai is a saint. But those supporting Uba Sanni against him should reflect. Have they listened to Uba Sanni speak about how El-Rufai was the ladder to his success long before politics and governance? If so, how do they now defend his rebellion?
In life, you cannot defend evil without becoming a part of it. To defend an ingrate, you must first assume the posture of one.
– Engr Ira Habib writes from Abuja.
