Finding worthy successors for great leaders like Hon Pete Ibida is a global problem. This problem is even more acute in Africa and maybe the sole reason for the political corruption of godfatherism in Nigeria. This is the case because Nigerian leaders following the succession system of traditional African leadership are usually afraid when it is time for them to leave office fearing that someone less capable than they are would come to destroy all they have labored to build. Thus, an average Nigerian leader plans and schemes to handover to someone loyal and capable of maintaining his legacy.
In African traditional leadership system, godfathering may not be bad because it ensures continuity of leadership. However, in liberal democracy, which puts emphasis on autonomy and popular sovereignty, godfatherism is seen as political corruption of the highest order.
This usually creates a tension between what the leader wants and what the people want. This often results leader imposing a successor on the people or the people forcing the leader to accept and anoint a successor against his wish.
One natural way of navigating this tension occurs when a leader is able to find a successor acceptable to the people or when the people find a successor that has the leader’s confidence. Such outcome rarely happens, but when it does, the result is usually a spousal and miraculous union between continuity and people oriented leadership.
This political miracle is in the making in Njikoka II where the interests of the people and the constituency’s representative, Hon Pete Ibida have found synergy in Dr. Jude Akpua. The great lawmaker, Hon Ibida who has piloted the affairs of Njikoka II in the past 8 years is a great achiever. He has a publicly acclaimed record of enviable achievements before him. In fact, one thing every citizen of Njikoka II Constituency can attest to is that Hon. Ibida is not just a lawmaker who speaks good grammar on the floor of the Anambra State House of Assembly but that he is also a builder who has transformed the face of Njikoka II in terms of empowerments and infrastructural developments.
Hence, the question has been, when Hon Ibida move on to pursue higher political dreams, who will step into his big shoes? Who will maintain the momentum of the inimitable legacy he has built over the past 8 years? While the people asked these questions and speculated about the political future of Hon Ibida and Njikoka II, Hon Ibida was busy grooming and preparing Dr. Jude Akpua to take up from where he would stopped.
Surprising, long before Hon Ibida announced that he would be taking a shot at the Green Chamber in the 2023 general elections, speculations already abounded within the Constituency that Dr. Akpua would be a worthy successor. This is a great synergy of interests as it shows that Hon Ibida understands his people and that the people understand him and both have been working in each other’s interest even without being aware of it.
Dr. Akpua has on his own, over the years, worked assiduously and assumedly under the tutelage of Hon. Ibida where he has been groomed in the art of service to his people. His unassuming ability to stoop low and learn the art of rendering service under the distinguished scholarship of a grandmaster like Hon. Pete Ibida has made him Hon. Ibida’s most qualified successor. As the people of Njikoka II await to see their dream come true, I pray that God, the merciful Father will protect Hon Pete Ibida and Dr. Akpua, all the grace they need to continue the good work they are doing among our people. Amen.
