Flashback: Wike Warned Ambode In 2018 That Godfatherism Is Detrimental, Saying ‘We Are Not In Lagos’

Flashback: Wike Warned Ambode in 2018 That Godfatherism Is Detrimental, Saying ‘We Are Not in Lagos’

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), once advised former Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode in 2018 to reject the influence of godfatherism in his political career. Wike, then the Governor of Rivers, made the remark during an interview on The Osasu Show, urging Ambode to prioritize the interests of Lagos over those of his political godfather, Bola Tinubu, who was seen as the political godfather of Lagos……….READ MORE

Wike condemned godfatherism, stating, “Godfatherism is not good. It negates development. No more godfather politics in Rivers State. We are not in Lagos. Rivers State will not accept godfatherism.” This call for an end to godfatherism came as Ambode’s relationship with Tinubu soured, ultimately leading to Ambode’s failure to secure a second-term ticket, which was attributed to his distancing from Tinubu and the APC party structure.

However, Wike’s stance on godfatherism has been questioned as political tensions unfold in Rivers State. Wike, despite his past condemnation of godfatherism, is now embroiled in a political struggle with his successor, Siminalayi Fubara. After Fubara’s election in 2023, tensions quickly emerged over Wike’s perceived interference in the state’s affairs.

The conflict escalated in 2025, with Fubara’s government facing opposition from pro-Wike lawmakers, leading to a series of dramatic events, including the suspension of Fubara by President Tinubu, who declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025. The move has sparked controversy, with critics accusing Wike of perpetuating the very godfatherism he once opposed.