Fashola: Nothing bad with godfatherism

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says there is nothing wrong with having a political godfather years after denouncing the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu as his godfather.

Far back in 2010, Mr Fashola, when asked about his relationship with Asiwaju Tinubu, had replied, “I do not have a godfather,” instead referring to him as a “political mentor”.

At the time, Mr Fashola’s relationship with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his predecessor, was frosty. It wasn’t exactly clear what their disagreement was, but both men were locked in a cold war.

Eleven years later, Mr Fashola’s perspective on the subject has flip-flopped, now advocating that young politicians need to be guided by elderly political godfathers.

“In this game, young people have their work and the elders have their work,” Mr Fashola said when asked about his view on godfatherism in politics by BBC Yoruba.

According to the works and housing minister, godfatherism was a normal occurrence. “If you don’t have one at home, you will have one outside who will be directing you on what to do.”

Speaking further in the interview, the former Lagos state governor said godfatherism was not peculiar to politics, but also practiced in other professions.

“Even in law practice we have godfathers. Is that not what you are saying? When I started my law practice I had one boss, Mr Ebun Sofunde. He taught me a lot,” Mr Fashola said.

In the same interview, Mr Fashola justified debt accumulation by President Buhari regime, saying it was a way for the unborn generation to contribute to the country’s development.

A godfather is a man who is influential or pioneering in a movement or organization