GODFATHERISM, IT'S MENACES, EVITABILITY AND MODIFIABILITY || An article by ABDULHAMEED JAMIU (GOKEX), FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, UNILORIN




When a group of people look up to someone (who is most of the time older,wiser and more experienced) for advice and guidelines on specific issues due to the person's vast knowledge and broader scope of knowledge on a bone of contention, such a person is said to be a leader.
When a leader starts seeing himself as someone who's dominant over his inferiors and must be consulted before any pertinent decision is made by his followers let alone being executed without his consent, he's said to be a godfather
It's noteworthy that a godfather is dominating, authoritative and his followers are mandatorily and nonoptionally subjected to his wills and his decisions are executed whether it's in favour of the masses(which is most times not) or not.
The idea of godfatherism was brought into existence when the need for a leader, a guide, a more experienced fellow and one who's accustomed to the system and who has more followers and can influence the masses due to his viability, versatility and records of good service to humanity arose. The idea was a great one until it was adulterated by some corrupt minded individuals and since then, the black blood has been passed down the line of descends.
If a question is asked of an exemplification of a field where godfatherism has been outrageously bastardized, I won't hesitate to point to the political world; that's how any rational and upright open-minded fellow will. The political world is of course a tree with highly branched stems, politics almost in all areas and at all stages of life ranging from the grassroot, the state, national and to the international levels.
How great a country would Nigeria had been owing to the great vibrant politicians it is blessed with, had some bad eggs not imperceptibly bedeviled the nation?
How rich would Nigeria had been in both human and material resources hadn't people's intents been adulterated by the so called godfathers??
How much prominence would Nigeria have had in the whole world hadn't there been a record of existence of this plague that terrorize every innocent, just and honest mind that wishes to curb these corrupt practices
There is of course a record or two of bold steps taken by individuals or parties to curb godfatherism but the big question is "has there been any record of success?"
It seems not to be a problem caused by the perpetrators of this evil act in our immediate surrounding only but a pandemic one. The obfuscating part is those who fought for the eviction of this bothersome practice from their prime either become godfathers intentionally after a series of failed attempts to curb the practice or unknowingly to themselves taken as godfathers by those who look up to them, it's such a political muahahaha I must say.
godfatherism has been more of detrimental than beneficial over the years and It's menaces are not far fetched, a lot of record of killed dreams, shattered ambitions, maimed instincts, dishevelled plans and adulterated mindsets are evidences that godfatherism is a bad practice.
Anointed candidacy isn't just limited to those at the helm of affairs of the country as the trait has been passed down the line of descends as evident in our surrounding.
As I mentioned earlier, godfatherism isn't aimed at societal development but to extend the empires of the godfathers to boost their dominating power, to cover up their dirty secrets and of course to fatten their bank accounts
(Some things are better left unsaid....)
We of course can modify the idea of godfatherism if it proves to be recalcitrant and invincible to eviction. It's noteworthy that a thin subtle line imperceptibly exists between leadership and godfatherism. A lot of people are originally leaders with no intention of godfatherism but got inundated at the middle of the road by the wealth, fame, power and accolades, this type of people won't call themselves godfathers because of their initial declaration of intention but if painstakingly observed, we'll discover they are nothing but a bunch of theoretical leaders but practical godfathers

It's however imperative to let those guilty of the offence understand the little differences between godfatherism and it's good counterpart, leadership which are highlighted below:
•godfathers command but leaders advise, therefore, give your followers useful advice and don't make them subjected to your command.
•godfathers make decisions for their followers while leaders deliberate with their followers before they jointly arrive at a conclusion which is their decision.
•godfathers have subjects while leaders have followers. The former are nonoptionally subjected to their godfathers' wills, projects, decisions and wants, they can't do anything contrary to their godfathers' wishes no matter how bad those wishes are. Followers have the freedom to execute their plans, no leader will stop them in as much those plans are to serve humanity.
godfathers are "Mr-know-all" while leaders learn from even their followers.
•godfathers are always right even when they are wrong, they will always try to make their wrongs look right while leaders admit their mistakes and correct them.
•godfathers earn the sweat of their subjects under an air-conditioned roof while leaders toil and eat from their own sweat and
•godfathers are worshipped while leaders are followed.

If the above observations can be looked into and used as contrivances, I believe the menaces of godfatherism will be controlled without losing it's beneficial aspects

© Abdulhameed Jamiu Adegoke (aka Gokex), Faculty of Agriculture, University of
Ilorin
Facebook: Gokex Abdulhameed
WhatsApp: 09028918134
Telephone: 08168369152