‎Tinubu Cap and Sycophancy Taken too Far in Edo State -By Abdulkadir Salaudeen

‎Before President Tinubu happened to them in Edo State, I wrote an opinion article, five years ago, titled “Edo No Be Lagos: Crucifying Godfatherism And The Godfather.” It was published in THEWILL. The article was a jubilation over the defeat of a godfathers in Edo State by the then elected Governor Godwin Obaseki. The godfather then was Adams Oshiomole. The godfather’s father who has always been a godfather too was Tinubu. Because godfathers in Nigeria, in most cases, traditionally pocket any state they godfathered, I am always elated when they are defeated.

In the opening paragraph of that article, I wrote: “I have become incurably addicted to relish failure of godfathers in the political arena for a reason: the concept refuses settlement in my thinking faculty. I don’t believe in the supremacy of power brokers. I believe the people constitute the sovereign—sovereignty should be located in them. They should have their say in electing their representatives. This is democracy. Democracy is a cluster of concentric political concepts which has in its core the concept of egalitarianism. In that sense, every electorate is constitutionally entitled to a vote; only one vote. So, ‘political godfatherism’, a euphemism for ‘political idolism’ is antithetical to democracy.”

In my ecstasy, though a very cautious ecstasy, I further wrote:

“What thrilled me in the Edo political show of strength is the defeat of the godfathers; the seeming burial of the concept of godfatherism under the debris. What we don’t know is if it was irretrievably buried or otherwise. Time will tell. We shall come to know the reality towards the end of Obaseki’s tenure. Would he allow the people to determine their next governor, hence democratizing the process; or tread the path of ignominy as did his predecessor?”

Time has now told us what we were, then, unsure of. Obaseki trod the path of its predecessor. He tried to transform himself into a godfather and, to my delight, failed woefully. The burial of godfatherism in Edo State was not well officiated and the grave in which it was buried was not vaulted. Time, the best informant, recently informed us that godfatherism has resuscitated again—rearing its ugly head. This time around, the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, is not just paying obeisance to Tinubu (the afọbajẹ́—kingmaker—that now wears the crown), he is paying obeisance even to Tinubu’s CAP. For the information of readers of this column, paying obeisance to Tinubu’s CAP has now become a state policy in Edo State. This is the height of sycophancy. I mean, the worst of it in Nigeria’s recorded history.

How did this happen? Before providing the answer, let me make a clarification. Admirers of Tinubu are free to wear Tinubu CAP. It is mere symbolism—symbolizing that they are wholeheartedly, unrepentantly, and politically Batified. Democracy accommodates all of this; it does not frown at it. It is a choice. We have the Kwankwasiyyah CAP in Kano. The former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo popularized Awolowo CAP when he was the Second Citizen.

However, it becomes a problem when commissioners in a state risk losing their jobs not for poor performance but for not carrying, on their heads, a cap that bears Tinubu’s logo. I thought I read the wrong news when Okpebholo of Edo State gave the directive that all commissioners must appear ‘Tinubustic’ and look ‘Batified’ before they would be qualified to attend executive council meeting. Commissioners’ failure to don Tinubu on their head is not just a sin, the sin is unforgivable.

Speaking during the swearing-in of the newly appointed commissioners, Okpebholo said he would not forgive any of the commissioners who failed to wear the cap. To appreciate the role of Tinubu in his election victory, Okpebholo said the swearing in of the appointees wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Tinubu.

“So, let me tell you”, he addressed his commissioners the way a primary school headmaster would address his pupils, “before we begin, you see this cap I am wearing? I will not forgive any commissioner that is not wearing it.” He emphasized: “In EXCO, if you are not wearing a suit, and you are wearing a traditional dress, and you are coming to the EXCO without this Asiwaju CAP, you are going back.” I don’t think a headmaster will talk to his Gen Z pupils in this manner without offending them. These commissioners are not offended. Why? I will explain shortly.

As at when Governor Okpebholo gave that directive two weeks ago, I did not read any serious meaning into it. I considered it a joke. I later realized it wasn’t a joke when the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, issued a stern warning in respect to Asiwaju CAP. Addressing reporters, he said: “If you refuse to wear the cap as the governor has directed, we will suspend you. That is indiscipline and insubordination.”

With this latest development in Edo State, one can conclude that Tinubu has happened to the Edo State Government. Though he (Tinubu) might not have happened to the people of Edo State because I am aware that the people of Edo, through their king, Oba Ewuare II of Benin, recently rejected the imposition of Iyaoja on them by one Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo whom I learnt is one of Tinubu’s kids. The Oba tutored her that Iyaloja is alien to Benin people. Kudos to Oba Ewuare for not selling out his people.

It is clear from the Governor’s statement that Tinubu, not the people of Edo, is the reason he is a governor. The votes of Edo voters do not count; they are just formality. What really counts is Tinubu. That is why he must be ‘worshipped’ with earnest devotion. No wonder, governors, even, those in opposition, are falling over one another to be Batified and be handed Asiwaju CAP. I doubt there will be any governor in any opposition party by the time 2027 election would be conducted.

With this childish display of sycophancy by those who are considerably adults, good governance is endangered and should not be expected in Edo State. In fairness to Governor Okpebholo, he warned the commissioners that he would not tolerate corruption and actions that could undermine the integrity of his administration. This is well said. But what is clear is that corruption might not be tolerated, it will certainly be forgiven. The only unforgivable and unforgiven sin that any commissioner can commit is not to wear Asiwaju CAP.

If the slogan, five years ago, was “Edo no be Lagos”, now the slogan has changed to “Edo don pass Lagos.” For instance, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has always been Tinubu loyalist. I can’t recall seeing him so sycophantically puerile—threatening to sack his commissioners for not wearing Asiwaju CAP—like his counterpart in Edo State just to thank Tinubu for making him governor.

In a federal system of government, governors are not subordinate to the president. They derive their powers, like the president, from the constitution. Thus, they are autonomous and only collaborate with the president; not subordinate to him. But when all federalist ideals and democratic values are lost, and governors are competing to be slaves to a president, what is the fate of the governed?

This quote almost makes me fall in with HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II. The Emir recently said: “If we must fix this country the ruling class need to have values, values beyond stomach infrastructure.” But because the only value valued by Nigerian political class is stomach infrastructure, none of the commissioners, to the best of my knowledge, has tendered a resignation letter in Edo State after that slavish, insulting, and dehumanizing order to compulsorily wear Asiwaju CAP.

Finally, isn’t Monday Okpebholo the Governor who struggled to pronounce budget figure almost a year ago, for which he was severely criticized and mocked? I think he deserves praise this time around for sycophancy.

While I wish the people of Edo State success, I advise them to vote wisely next time and make sure their votes count. Kudos again to HRH Oba Ewuare II.

Abdulkadir Salaudeen

salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com