Their patriarchs held very influential positions, some as presidents and others as governors, party leaders, among others. They influenced the appointments of family members and other relations to sustain their political fortunes. But with time, the centers could not hold, so they disappeared.
The Obasanjos:
Olusegun Obasanjo was Nigerian leader twice. First, as military head of state from 1976 to 1979, then as a democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007 when he handed over to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. With his influence, his daughter, Dr Iyabo became Ogun State Commissioner for Health, and subsequently elected Senator in 2007. She tried to return in 2011, but failed. With that the Obasanjos are nowhere near power corridor since then.
The Sarakis:
The patriarch was Dr, Abubakar Olusola Saraki. He was a Senate Leader during the Second Republic from 1979 to 1983. He made his son Dr. Bukola Saraki governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011 (two terms). Oloye, as the patriarch was known, tried to make his daughter Gbemisola take over from her elder brother Abubakar Bukola Saraki in 2015, he failed. Bukola went to Senate and became Senate President from 2015 to 2019, his bid to return was unsuccessful. After installing Ahmed Abdulfatah in 2015, the Otoge Movement defeated him in 2019. As a result Bukola Saraki lost grip and control of the state politically. His sister Gbemisola was in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003 and Senate from 2003 to 2011. Gbemi is now a federal minister and Bukola is busy with PDP reconciliation efforts. He may bounce back.
The Abba Ibrahims:
Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim was a three time governor and three time senator. He ruled Yobe State from 1990 to 1992 and 1999 to 2007. He was in the Senate from 2007 to 2019. His wife Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim was Commissioner, Resident Commissioner NICON Insurance. She was at the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2018. She is currently in the House of Representatives.
The Modu Sheriffs:
Ali Modu Sheriff was Senator from 1999 to 2003, then governor of Borno State from 2003 to 2011. He was National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from February 16, 2016 to July 12, 2017. Modu Sherrif, at the end of his final but second tenure as governor, tried to anoint his in-law Modu Fannami Gubio. But Gubio was killed by Boko Haram after winning the primaries. He brought Kashim Shettima but parted ways not long after. Modu Sherrif also nominated Muhammed Sanusi Daggash into the Government of National Unity during President Yar’Adua’s regime. The hitherto all-powerful SAS is keeping a low political profile now.
The Ahmad Sanis:
Ahmad Rufai Sani was governor of Zamfara State from 1999 to 2007, joined the Senate from June 2007 to 2019. The sore point, however, was when his son Abba Ahmad was elected into the state House of Assembly in 2019 in the state only for the Supreme Court to upturn the election. Yerima fell apart with people he installed as governors in the state- first Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi and Abdulaziz Yari. Yarima had since lost influence and is struggling to find a space in the political landscape of Zamfara.
The Kwankwasos:
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was governor from 1999 to 2003, but could not return until 2011 to complete his last but second term, In between, he was defence minister. He was also Senator from 2011 to 2019. Kwankwaso also aspired to be president in 2015 and 2019 but lost at the primaries to Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. During his first tenure, Kwankwaso appointed his in-law Abba Kabiru Yusuf as his personal assistant, and as Commissioner of Works during his second term which ended in 2015. In 2019, he sponsored Abba to run for the governorship of Kano state, but was defeated by incumbent Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. As it is today, both Kwankwaso and Abba are now cooling their feet out of the political space.
The Adelekes:
Isiaka Adeleke is the first governor of Osun State in 1992. He was elected Senator in 2007. He aspired to be governor again in the 2018 election, but was cut short by death in 2017. Then, his younger brother took over from him after a bye-election. In 2018, Ademola Adeleke emerged governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he won the election, but was contested. A tribunal returned him, but the Supreme Court upturned the tribunal, thereby ending the political dynasty of the Adelekes.
The Jangs:
Jonah Jang was governor both as a military and civilian. For military, it was from 1985 to 1986 in Benue; from 1986 to 1987 in former Gongola State. He was elected Governor of Plateau state from 2007 to 2015. He was Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, and went to Senate from 2011 to 2015; these made him a major political force in Plateau state. With this political fortunes, he tried to install his cousin Gyang Pwajok of the PDP as governor in 2015, but lost to APC’s Simon Lalong. Pwajok was in the Senate from 2012 to 2015 and Chief of Staff to Jang from 2011 to 2012. Both men are now enjoying the cool weather of Jos out of politics.
The Ibros:
The political patriarch of this dynasty is former governor of Kogi State Alhaji Idris Ibrahim known as Ibro. He was governor from 2003 to 2011. He made one of his sons Mohammed a member of the House of Representatives, spending just a term. His brother Abubakar was pushed forward to become governor in 2019, but failed at the primaries level. In fact, Abubakar was expelled from the PDP. All three are back to their family home and not seen on the political scene in Kogi again.
The Nyakos:
Murtala Nyako was governor of Adamawa State from 2007 to December 16, 2016. He fixed up his son Abdulaziz Nyako who was also elected to the Senate from 2015 to 2019. Abdulaziz tried to be governor afterwards, but failed. And that was all for the Nyakos.
The Anenihs:
The late Chief Tony Anenih was at a time called Mr. Fix- It owing to his ability to enforce political successes of high profile politicians especially for late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and later President Olusegun Obasanjo’s political activities. He was Minister of Works during Obasanjo’s first tenure and subsequently Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP. With him, his wife Josephine was made a Special Adviser on Women Affairs to President Obasanjo until 2006, and Minister of Women Affairs on April 6, 2010 when Goodluck Jonathan was president.
The Ubas:
Andy Uba, also known as Emmnauel Nnamdi Uba, was Special Assistant on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs to President Obasanjo. He won a governorship election in 2007, but could not resume due to tenure issue with the Governor Peter Obi. He was to be in the Senate in 2011, that too was aborted over allegation of certificate forgery. Chris Uba who is brother to Andy was a power broker in Anambra State. At a time, he boasted of rigging aspirants to electoral victories in the state. He ran for the governorship in 2007 but did not make it. The Ubas are in political hibernation today.
The Adedibus:
The late Alhaji Lamidu Adedibu was popularly known as the strongman of Ibadan Politics. He wielded so much political influence in the south west especially in Oyo, his home state. He never held any position either in the party or in government, but he could make or mar any governor and any political office holder. His brand of politics was described as a blend of populism and raw thuggery that often compelled either violent loyalty or violent opposition. With this, his son, Kamorudeen Adekunle Adedibu was elected and spent a term in the Senate from 2007 to 2011. With that, the Adedibus have disappeared from the political landscape where the late patriarch called the shot.
The Okorochas:
Rochas Okorocha was governor of Imo State from 2011 to 2019. He aspired but failed to be president in 2019, but went to the Senate in 2019. While he was governor, he appointed his sister Mrs. Ogechi Ololo (nee Okorocha) as commissioner for Happiness and Couples Fulfillment. Okorocha also appointed his son in-law Uche Nwosu his chief of staff. He attempted to make Nwosu governor, but the later failed in 2019. Okorocha is the only one standing being in the Senate, but is fighting a political battle of his life as he is currently locking horns with Governor Hope Uzodinma over who controls Imo state.
The Kures:
The late Abdulkadir Kure was Governor of Niger state from 1999 to 2007. At the end of his tenure, he facilitated the elections of his wife, Zainab Kure as Senator. She remained in the senate from 2007 to 2015. The family has been out of political relevance for some moment now.
Why political dynasties disappear in Nigeria – Expert
In explaining why political dynasties don’t last in Nigeria, Dr Rahanatu Lawal, Head of Department, Political science and International Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said most of the politicians especially the younger ones coming on board have not gained enough experience on the political scene.
She recalled that history has shown that in the first republic, parties were formed along regional lines and based on ideology, adding that over time, politicians manipulated the system.
“They introduced religion and ethnicity into politics which created crisis leading to divisions among the people,” she said, adding that politicians manipulated religion and ethnicity to win election at all cost.
Dr. Lawal said another reason political dynasties do not last in Nigeria is because of the absence of ideology and abandoning of party manifestos, adding that this has made politicians to be cross carpeting from one party to the other which she said make politicians to be unpopular.
