By John Mayaki
I am no longer a neophyte when it comes to politics – at least, I studied under late Chief Tony Anenih – though not too close but through my late leader, Chief Barrister Samson Ekhabafe. That was when I realized that the game of politics is that of structure, loyalty, and endurance. It is not a one-off business deal where you take your profit and walk away. True politicians understand that power is not just about holding office but building and sustaining a system, strengthening alliances, and standing firm in the trenches, whether in victory or defeat.
Today, the political structure of late Chief Tony Anenih is still alive just as that of late Chief Ekhabafe – the Ogberagbiri of Uneme Kingdom. The Igbinedions are still politically relevant till date, among several others who are out of power. But, when you give power to transactional technocrats, I mean outsiders who have never endured the rigors of party struggle, they see politics as nothing more than a corporate project – and political party as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Just like Godwin Obaseki, they enter, use the system, discard those who helped them, and vanish when their tenure is over, leaving their loyalists stranded.
I just finished reading the account of Obaseki’s Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu about how he gave Obaseki an undeserved loyalty. Thankfully, Philip Shaibu is still relevant politically today while the transitional technocrat, the ‘cash and carry’ Obaseki, has since disappeared into self-imposed exile, and abandoning the very people who fought his battles, defended him, and sacrificed their own political relationship for his sake. Today, Obaseki’s handful of loyalists now wander in political limbo, leaderless and directionless – the victims of yet another failed technocratic experience.
When he assumed office in his first tenure, he told the politicians to go find something to do and that government house was not an ATM – I mean like expendable tools, he trampled on the same political party that sustained him. He spoke big grammars about reforms and governance. He brought in some neophytes clutching laptops and holding meetings from one office to another, talking from some packages of Microsoft Office such as spreadsheets and PowerPoint – anyone who is not conversant with these cannot be part of the government.
Rather than build bridges across the Niger, he burnt all. Today, Obaseki has no base – since the end of his tenure, he fled the country for fear of being stoned at the Kingsqaure – even the colourful water fountain built by his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, is at war with Obaseki.
How he disappeared? Of course, just like a textbook case – no farewell tour, no gratitude visit to his loyalists, no attempt to consolidate power even after his anointed candidate, Asue Ighodalo was roundly defeated. Very quietly, Obaseki took a retreat into political oblivion. Now, the followers of this transactional technocrat are left stranded, abandoned by the very man they risked everything for – if you doubt me, read the “Book of Lamentation” according to St. Philip, the son of Shaibu.
Shaibu could easily be described as the biggest casualty of Obaseki’s political misadventure – after years of ‘blind’ loyalty, he was illegally impeached like a broken tool when Obaseki no longer needed him. But today, the politician is still waxing stronger while the technocrat is in exile.
Apart from Shaibu, many others staked their political careers. The young loyalists who attacked and insulted Obaseki’s opponents online, where are they now? Their ‘used and dumped’ technocrat has fled to an unknown destination leaving loyalists to bear the consequences of their actions – was it worth it?
This absentee godfather technocrat is a lesson in how how it to play politics and how not to be loyal to ‘cash and carry’ technocrats who accidentally gets into power. And so, with Obaseki gone, what happens to his loyalists? Will they find a new political home or struggle in isolation? Wu they accept their fate and also fade into political irrelevance like their godfather or remain stranded – will they ever recover?
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Most importantly, the lesson learnt is that politicians will think twice before entrusting power to an out her transactional technocrat in the mold of Obaseki. Next time technocrats comes to ask for power, we must asked ourselves if they will stand by use in difficult times, fight for us when the battle gets tough, or will he use and dump us?
Above are the issues Obaseki’s loyalists must begin to reflect upon – was it worth it? Next time, if an Obaseki comes to us with his deceitful style and disdain for politicians, what would be our reaction and decision?
I think every political leader owes a duty to those who stood by them in battle but when the likes of Obaseki flees the battlefield, leaving his soldiers without direction? And that brings me to the question, will Obaseki ever return to lead his motley supporters? Has Obaseki washed his hands off their political destiny? Will Obaseki allow them to drown in the political ocean he created? Or did Obaseki simply use, discard and abandon them?
For this absentee godfather technocrat, his self-imposed exile prove that he was never in the fame for the long haul. He was temporary actor who used the political structure for personal elevation and discarded it when convenient. We wish him well in his hideout.
