By Editorial Staff, Observers Times
There is an old adage that says, “Loyalty is rare; if you find it, keep it.” In the treacherous waters of Nigerian politics—an environment where loyalty is often a fleeting shadow—former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello appears to be enjoying a political harmony that many of his more seasoned contemporaries have failed to secure. While other political gladiators and powerful former governors find themselves at war with their successors, Bello stands as a notable exception.
The Rivers Rifts: Wike’s “Lesser Evil” Turns Into a Nightmare
Who would have imagined that a man as formidable as Nyesom Wike, who governed Rivers State like an empire, would today be lamenting a political betrayal from his own godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara? Wike has openly confessed that Fubara has reneged on their political agreements—a revelation that sent shockwaves through the political establishment.
Among those who sought to succeed Wike, Fubara was considered the “lesser evil,” a quiet technocrat who would presumably maintain the status quo. Perhaps, as they say, appearances are deceptive. Today, Wike finds himself in the unenviable position of seeking a “second chance” at influence, essentially at the mercy of President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to either compel Fubara to the negotiating table or face the threat of impeachment. Some observers believe the friction stems from Fubara’s long-held grievances during his time as Accountant General, while others suggest it is “political karma,” using the successor to check the predecessor’s overbearing influence.
The Kano Conundrum: Kwankwaso’s Serial Betrayals
The relationship between Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf (Abba Gida-Gida) is rooted in decades of history. Abba served as Kwankwaso’s Personal Assistant for 12 years and has been a close ally for nearly 37 years. He famously noted in 2019, “Kwankwaso is my leader… I know him to be my leader, my Oga.”
However, history in Kano suggests that long-term service is no guarantee of future loyalty. In 2014, Kwankwaso handpicked his deputy, Abdullahi Ganduje, to succeed him. Within months, the relationship imploded. Today, history seems poised to repeat itself. Despite Abba Yusuf’s marital ties to Kwankwaso’s family and his deep-rooted role in the Kwankwasiyya movement, political observers are watching for cracks.
With Ganduje now leading the APC at the national level, the pressure on Abba Yusuf is immense. Should Abba pivot toward Ganduje or the APC to secure his own political survival, it would be the second time Kwankwaso has seen his influence scorched by a man he spent decades building. It raises the question: is Kwankwaso’s unquenchable taste for dominance the very thing that eventually alienates his most loyal proteges?
The Kaduna Indictment: El-Rufai and the Debt of Betrayal
In the unwritten laws of Nigerian politics, power is rarely won; it is given by the unseen hands of kingmakers. Yet, as Nasir El-Rufai has learned, political loyalty is transactional and fragile.
Governor Uba Sani’s rise was carefully orchestrated by El-Rufai, moving from Political Adviser to Senator, and finally to Governor. El-Rufai sidelined grassroots aspirants to ensure Sani’s emergence. However, the honeymoon was short-lived. Governor Sani recently sent shockwaves through the state by publicly indicting El-Rufai’s administration, claiming he inherited a debt-ridden treasury that leaves only ₦3 billion monthly for state operations after debt servicing.
This public denunciation was more than a financial report; it was a declaration of independence. Machiavelli taught that power is best secured by eliminating those who helped you attain it, and Uba Sani appears to be following that cold logic, leaving his former mentor at the mercy of the very forces he once controlled.
The Kogi Exception: Yahaya Bello and Usman Ododo
In contrast to the chaos in Rivers, Kano, and Kaduna, Kogi State presents a different narrative. When Yahaya Bello chose Usman Ododo as his successor, many “political prophets” predicted the relationship wouldn’t last a month. Bello himself famously stated in September 2023, “I have no blood relationship with Ododo… he might come from the same place, but we are not relatives.”
Despite not having the long-standing national political profile of a Wike or an El-Rufai at the time of his entry into power, Bello appears to have mastered a game they have not. While the other governors are locked in public acrimony with their successors, Bello and Ododo have maintained a cordial and united front.
Unlike Kano or Rivers—states whose economic and electoral weight makes their internal loyalties a matter of national security—Kogi exists outside the ‘kingmaker’ circle. History shows that top-tier political actors follow the money and the votes, two things Kogi lacks on a grand scale. Consequently, the betrayals within Kogi’s borders rarely trigger a national crisis, simply because the state is not viewed as a prerequisite for the presidency. It remains a localized battlefield, overlooked by a center more interested in the power hubs of the North and the oil-rich South
As Bello looks toward his next political move, analysts suggest he has joined the rare league of leaders like David Umahi of Ebonyi and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, who managed to transition power without immediate internal warfare. While the “nay-sayers” keep guessing, the synergy between the former and current governor of Kogi State remains a study in successful political succession—a feat that continues to elude the “giants” of the Nigerian political landscape.
