Nigeria’s Emerging Political Dynasties

. How and where they hold sway

Before she became an independent nation, Nigeria had politicians who distinguished themselves with sheer brilliance, knowledge and correct practical application of their knowledge. Those were politicians who could hold their own as the most eloquent members of the political order.  Back then, people felt greatly honoured to be associated with politicians. Though some were revered like royalty, they never dissociated themselves from the plight of the ordinary Nigerian. Over five decades after independence, children of politicians seem to be taking over from their fathers and some of them now hold sway in different political positions. WOLE ADEJUMO takes a look at the political dynasties that have emerged over the years.

Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State is seen as the political capital of the South West and it is rightly so. Apart from being among the largest cities in West Africa, Ibadan was the capital of the Western Region of Nigeria in the olden days and the region boasted of famous politicians back then, from Ibadan to Ogbomoso, Ikenne, Ado Ekiti, Owo and many more, the Western Region was simply too important to ignore. 

Ibadan can boast of producing the present Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide. After her loss in the contest for the Oyo Central Senatorial seat in 2011, Akinjide was appointed as a Minister. Her dad, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide, SAN, held sway as the Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation in the Second Republic. Those who were around then, especially those in the opposition, would remember him in the most unpleasant way possible, “the twelve two-thirds” philosophy. Chief Akinjide, a legal icon, is one of the elders in the People’s Democratic Party.

Up till some years back, Molete was a part of Ibadan the faint hearted kept away from. Meanwhile, it was for a period of time the political centre of the city. Those were in the days the Strongman of Ibadan

Politics; High Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu was at the zenith of his power. Baba Adedibu was known to have been instrumental to the emergence of three Governors of Oyo State and the impeachment of one of them, albeit illegally. Such was the level of power that was on full display then. Matters were decided in his Molete residence and decisions taken there were final. Everyone courted him, and when he decided that his son, Kamorudeen would become Senator in 2007, nobody could object. His old and tried method of absolute power was put to “good use” and it is common knowledge in Ibadan and beyond that but for Baba’s death, Senator Kamoru Adedibu would probably have become the Governor of Oyo State in 2011.

Senator Femi Lanlehin beat Kamoru Adedibu at the 2011 elections to emerge as the Senator representing Oyo South District. Lanlehin, a lawyer is the son of Chief Samuel Lanlehin, who served as the National Treasurer of the Action Group in the First Republic. As a member of the legislative arm of government then, Chief Lanlehin’s contemporaries included Chief Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye, Chiefs Akinbiyi and Aboderin as well as Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu “Penkelemeesi”.

Back in 2010 when Dapo Lam Adesina declared his intention to go into active politics, many saw it as a step that might not yield much, especially when he declared his intention to run for House of Reps. Though he lost the 2011 election when he

vied for the Ibadan North East/ South East Federal constituency seat, Governor Abiola Ajimobi appointed him as a Commissioner and there, he proved his mettle in the Ministries of Sports and Applied Sciences. He gave the Federal Legislative poll a shot again in 2015 and he won a keenly contested election which saw him contesting a godson of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Dapo’s dad, Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina had an irrefutable influence on the Action Congress of Nigeria till he breathed his last. Not many however knew that “The Great Lam” was a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly in the Second Republic and when Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, Alhaji Lam Adesina was elected as the Governor.

Another politician in Dapo Lam Adesina’s generation is Honourable Saheed Akinade Fijabi. Apart from coming from a line of brave, old Ibadan warriors, Honourable Fijabi’s father, Chief Ismaila Fijabi is a known APC top shot with close ties to Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Ondo State indigenes will never forget Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, their Second Republic Governor, especially for his policies that bordered on education. Chief Ajasin’s daughter, Jumoke Anifowose has made a mark politically. She once served as the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state after which she aspired for the governorship position. She also served as the state Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria.

Chief Femi-Fani Kayode, a former Minister for Aviation worked recently as the Media Director of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organization. Ife-born Fani-Kayode is not treading on unfamiliar terrain. His dad, Late Chief Remi Fani-Kayode was the one that successfully moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence. He was also actively involved in the politics of the country, especially in the Western Region, where he served as the Deputy Premier.

Architect Olumuyiwa Ige is a true example of the saying, “a fruit never falls far from the tree”. When he was nominated as a Commissioner by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, no one raised an eyebrow. Reason? Though he is the son of Chief James Ajibola Ige, Muyiwa is his own man. He started at the point his dad started from decades ago. Many remember Chief Bola Ige simply as the Governor of the Old Oyo State between 1979 and 1983. It must however be recalled that Chief Ige started off as the Commissioner for Agriculture in the Western Region and when Oyo State was created, he contested for the governorship position on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN. He was the Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation as of the time he was murdered in 2001.

Mobolaji Akande, the daughter of Chief Bisi Akande too belongs to the political class in Osun. Chief Akande, one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress at the national level, was Deputy Governor when Chief Bola Ige ruled Oyo State. He governed Osun State between 1999 and 2003.

A new kid on the block might have also emerged in Kayode Oduoye, the son of Senator Simeon Oduoye, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police who served with the Provost Marshal decades back. Though Kayode Oduoye lost when he contested for a Federal legislative seat, he is seen as a politician to watch in the near future.

In the politics of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba has a place in the history books. He was Governor during the botched Third Republic and by the time Nigeria returned to democratic rule, he was elected again as the Governor of the Gateway State. Osoba was until recently seen as Governor Amosun’s godfather. The duo however fell apart, leading to Osoba’s exit from the All Progressives Congress and his subsequent movement to the Social Democratic Party. There as well, Aremo Osoba is the godfather, though the party didn’t have a good showing. Osoba’s son, Olumide is a member of the House of Representatives.  

20 years after handing over power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a retired Army General made history as the first man to rule Nigeria as a military Head of State and civilian President. As Obasanjo’s political clout soared in 1999, his daughter, Iyabo was appointed as a Commissioner in Ogun State. Having given a good account, she ran for a senatorial seat and was the Head of a Senate Committee.

Like Iyabo Obasanjo, Honourable Dimeji Bankole made a mark as a Federal lawmaker. Bankole whose dad is a popular veteran politician in Ogun State rose to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

And in Lagos, just like his dad, Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro has earned himself the sobriquet “IBO”, an acronym derived from his initials and apparently from his father’s slogan, ‘‘Koro ibo”. He contested for the Eti Osa constituency seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, losing by a little over 200 votes. His dad too vied for the PDP governorship ticket and was re-appointed as a Minister after losing the shadow election conducted by the People’s Democratic Party.

Though the face and ideologies of Ekiti politics are fast changing, one thing that cannot be wished away is the fact that the likes of Chiefs Akin Omoboriowo, Oduola Osuntokun, Senator Bode Olowoporoku, Chief Nathaniel F. Aina and Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua all distinguished themselves as valiant men.  

Oduola Osuntokun, a known loyalist of Chief Ladoke Akintola and Western Regional Minister between 1955 and 1966 was one of the two Ministers who served under Akintola that were cleared and exonerated of financial impropriety in public office by Justice Kayode Eso. His son, Akin, once served as a Presidential Aare Basorun of Okemesi is one of the unwavering members the PDP can count on in terms of being loyal and principled.

Adviser and even aspired to govern Ekiti State. Akin Osuntokun, who is the

Bayo Aina is another politician whose dad made impressions in the days of old. Chief Nathaniel Aina of Otun Ekiti was a Commissioner under Governor Ajasin until the “Omoboriowo saga” that shook the Old Ondo State in the 2^nd Republic. After the exit of Omoboriowo as the Deputy Governor, Chief Aina was appointed to replace him. He was also a reliable Afenifere chieftain until his demise a little over a decade ago. His son, Bayo served as Commissioner for Finance in the Otunba Niyi Adebayo administration and under the Fayemi administration, he was the head of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission. 

Whoever doesn’t know Bianca Ojukwu, wife of Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was definitely not around in the late 1980s. The former beauty queen has her name in the record books as the first Nigerian to win the Miss Intercontinental pageant. Her dad, Chief Christian Onoh was once the Governor of Anambra State.

In his lifetime, anywhere Chief Olusola Saraki went in Ilorin and the whole of Kwara Sate, his multitude of supporters ensured that he was never alone.  “Oloye”, as the late Saraki’s followers called him did the almost unobtainable, installing his son, Bukola as Governor and his daughter, Gbemi as the Senator representing Kwara Central at the same time. By the time the younger Dr. Saraki finished his two terms as Governor, he went to the Senate, filling the seat formerly occupied by his sister.

Bukola Saraki, a chip off the old block seems to have taken after his dad in almost every sense. They have a lot in common; both qualified as Medical Doctors and like his father, Dr. Saraki is a Senator of the Federal Republic. It will be recalled that Oloye rose to national prominence after he became the Majority Leader of the Senate in 1979. One other fact worthy of note is that before the elder Saraki passed on, his son had already assumed full control as the determinant factor in Kwara politics, having been instrumental to the ascension of Alhaji Adulfattah Ahmed as Governor against the old godfather’s wish that Gbemisola Saraki should rule Kwara after her brother. Bukola Saraki thus stepped into his dad’s shoes before he died and successfully took the reins of power in Kwara.

The present Deputy Governor of Sokoto State is another politician that emerged from an old power broker. Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari, a lawyer, is the son of Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari. Alhaji Mukhtar once served as the Minister for Water Resources.

Plateau State too has a budding dynasty as Governor Jonah Jang recently appointed his son, Yakubu as a Commissioner. The younger Jang had earlier served as his dad’s Special Adviser on Special Duties.