In a recent video broadcast on Symfoni TV FROM 1:01, Dan Nwanyanwu, chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), offered his perspective on the ongoing political turbulence in Rivers State. Nwanyanwu attributed the tensions to the excessive influence and greed of political godfathers who expect continued control even after their terms in office have ended.
Nwanyanwu provided insight into the typical power dynamics within Nigerian state politics, explaining that governors usually assume leadership of their political parties at the state level. However, he pointed out a problematic assumption made by some political figures.
“You know how our political system is run. A governor in the state becomes the leader of his party in that state,” Nwanyanwu stated. He then addressed a common misconception, saying, “I don’t know what makes people think that if you pick anybody, assuming you single-handedly made that person anything, that you will be forever licking their boots. No!”
The ZLP chairman emphasized the natural progression of leadership, noting, “When he gets there, he also wants to make his own name. He will have advisers. If he didn’t know them at that time, he will learn, he will know.”
Nwanyanwu identified the root cause of political conflicts in such scenarios: “It is the greed in those godfathers that creates these problems.” He contrasted this with more successful transitions, stating, “We have had successful transitions where outgoing governors made a new governor.”
The chairman then specifically addressed the situation in Rivers State, appearing to reference former Governor Wike without naming him directly: “But it is when you have left and you want to be greedy, you want the resources of the state to be given to you as when you were collecting it as governor. That’s where you have such problems in the state.”
Nwanyanwu’s comments shed light on the destructive impact of power-hungry individuals on the political landscape. His statement underscores the importance of smooth power transitions and allowing new leaders to establish their own legacies without undue interference from their predecessors. As Rivers State continues to navigate its political challenges, Nwanyanwu’s insights offer a critical perspective on the broader issues of political succession and governance in Nigeria.