BENIN chiefs under the aegis of Benin Leaders of Thought (BLT) yesterday cautioned against the re-introduction of godfatherism in the state ahead of the governorship election later in the year.

Addressing a press conference in Benin City, BLT’s chairman and kid brother to the Oba of Benin, Prince Edun Akenzua, lauded Governor Adams Oshiomhole for his opposition to politics of godfatherism and insisted that they do not believe the rumour that he had anointed an aspirant to succeed him, adding that such intention could be a re-introduction of godfatherism that the people no longer want.

Nevertheless, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, like other citizens, has the inalienable right to support any aspirant of his choice even though that right would be exercised in a manner that also respects the right of other people to freely choose who will govern them.

While not confirming the rumour, BLT’s position on this issue is as follows: BLT believe that godfatherism in Edo politics is detrimental to the social, economic and political development of the state.
“Godfathersim is not acceptable to BLT and the people of Edo State. It should not be re-introduced under any guise.

The people of Edo State should be given free hand to determine their next governor. Popular participation bestows responsibility for governing one’s own conduct, develops ones character, self-reliance, intelligence and moral judgment.
“In a democracy, there is no substitute for popular participation.
“Even if a benevolent despot could govern in the public interest, he would be rejected by the classic democrat. Man can only know the truth by discovering it himself,”
 Akenzua counseled.

He commended Oshiomhole for the structural and infrastructural development programmes his government had put in place, pledging to collaborate with government to achieve greater things in the state.
“The fear of the potential return of godfatherism, a phenomenon which dominated the politics of Edo before the entry of Oshiomhole and to which he also devoted so much time and energy fighting, is one issue that has excited the imagination of observers of Edo politics in recent times.

Edo people have generally acknowledged godfatherism as one evil that needed to be addressed before the state could achieve the goal of good governance.
“It is against this background that the members of the BLT were taken aback by the rumour that a particular aspirant has been endorsed by the governor as his anointed successor,” Akenzuwa stressed.