‘You lack the credibility to speak against godfatherism’– group tackles el-Rufai

A group identified as The Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide says “godfatherism” has made Lagos state the most viable in Nigeria. 

The group was reacting to a statement by el-Rufai who had said he knows how to end “godfatherism” in Lagos politics.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, Oladotun Hassan, the council’s president, said el-Rufai’s comments were “abysmally insulting”, adding that the governor lacked “the credibility to utter such statements in a Yoruba land”.

The group said it is yet to see the impact of el-Rufai’s political victory in the lives of the people of his state, wondering why the governor would leave his state, which according to them, is being ravaged by insecurity, to “come to the megacity, the centre of excellence and the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and Africa’s emerging economic hub to claim he wants to end godfatherism”.

“Even as he claimed that he had ended Godfatherism in Kaduna, we are yet to see the benefits of his political victory in the lives of the people of Kaduna and the development of the state, unlike Lagos where our progressive leader of leaders has great successes to show,” Hassan said.

“Our so-called ‘godfatherism’ system helped in sustaining the struggle against the opposition in Nigeria and led to the building of the strong political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that made it possible for the enthronement of President Muhammadu Buhari, which also helped the same el-Rufai become the Kaduna state governor.

“Our so-called godfatherism helped sustain Lagos as the commercial hub of Nigeria and the fifth largest economy in Africa.

“Our so-called godfatherism has produced some of the best brains, who are currently an integral part of Nigeria’s political base and socio-economic development today, thriving in all sectors of the economy, with succinct track records of excellence and landmarks achievements in the country.

“Our so-called godfatherism has put Lagos as the most viable self-sustaining state in Nigeria today.

“Our so-called godfatherism has made Lagos among states with the best infrastructure in Africa, leaving no stone unturned towards achieving greater heights as one of the world’s leading economies.”

The group said it would reject any attempt by any individual, no matter how highly placed, to intrude or disrespect political leaders in the south-west.