NIGERIA: When Political Offices Become Family Inheritance

 

Political parties’ primary elections into various political offices are presently ongoing, while some have already been concluded. However, both the process and the outcomes so far appear to reflect what Nigerians and the entire world may likely witness during the 2027 general elections.
For this reason, these primaries must not be ignored or treated lightly without careful, critical, and deep examination. They are important indicators of the health, credibility, and future direction of Nigeria’s democracy.
As the Yoruba proverb says:
“Ojú tí ó bá máa báni káalẹ́, kì í t'ọ̀wúrọ̀ ṣẹ́pín.”
Meaning:
“The eyes that will bring sorrow in the evening usually begin to show signs from the morning.”
Yes, the outcomes of the primary elections so far, together with the political atmosphere surrounding them, are far from encouraging and may be signaling grave danger to the unity, stability, and very existence of Nigeria as a nation.
Understanding Democracy and Primary Elections
Former American President Abraham Lincoln famously defined democracy as:
“Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
That definition means:
• leadership must come from the people,
• leadership must reflect the will of the people,
• and leadership must serve the people — not a few powerful families or political elites.
In a true democracy, every qualified citizen should have equal opportunity to aspire to leadership through:
• fairness,
• competence,
• integrity,
• vision,
• and public trust.
What Are Primary Elections?
Primary elections are internal elections conducted within political parties to choose candidates who will represent the party in general elections.
They are meant to:
• allow party members and delegates to freely choose candidates,
• encourage competition based on ideas and competence,
• strengthen internal democracy,
• prevent imposition of candidates,
• and ensure leadership emerges through fairness rather than inheritance or manipulation.
Primary elections are therefore the foundation of democratic credibility.
But when primaries become controlled by:
• money,
• godfatherism,
• intimidation,
• family influence,
• or political manipulation,
then democracy itself becomes weakened.
Instead of:
“Government of the people,”
politics gradually becomes:
• government of powerful families,
• by political dynasties,
• for elite preservation.
That is the dangerous concern facing Nigeria today.
When Nigeria's Political Offices Become Family Inheritance Proverbs 29:2; “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Isaiah 1:23; “Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.”
1 Samuel 8:1–5;“And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
Beloved Nigerians, we are living indangerous and painful times.
The masses cry daily under:
• hunger,
• insecurity,
• unemployment,
• collapsing infrastructure,
• rising cost of living,
• and hopelessness.
Yet, at the same time, political partiesconduct primary elections where, repeatedly:
• sons,
• daughters,
• wives,
• relatives,
• and political associates of powerful men suddenly emerge as candidates.
In many cases:
• delegates are manipulated,
• internal democracy is weakened,
• competent citizens are sidelined,
• and political office begins to resemble inheritance.
The ordinary Nigerian now asks:
“Is leadership reserved only for connected families?”
This is not merely political discussion.
It is:
• a moral issue,
• a national issue,
• and a spiritual issue, because leadership affects the destiny of millions.
1. Nigeria Is Gradually Creating Political Royal Families
Democracy was meant to provide equal opportunity for citizens to serve.
Primary elections were designed to help political parties discover:
• credible leaders,
• competent candidates,
• and servants of the people.
But today:
• governors seek to install sons,
• senators position daughters as successors,
• political godfathers distribute tickets like family property,
• and public office is treated like private estate.
This contradicts the true meaning of democracy as defined by Abraham Lincoln — government belonging to the people, not inherited by a select political bloodline.
Nigeria increasingly risks replacing democracy with political monarchy.
History has shown in many nations that when political power rotates endlessly within a narrow elite circle, public trustweakens and national frustration deepens.
Across different societies, manipulated political systems have often produced:
• protests,
• instability,
• voter apathy,
• corruption,
• and national disillusionment.
Democracy survives only when citizens believe the system is fair.
Meanwhile:
• graduates roam the streets jobless,
• businesses collapse,
• and ordinary citizens struggle daily to survive.
The painful message being sent to young Nigerians is:
“Without family connection, forget leadership.”
That mindset kills hope, weakens patriotism, and damages national unity.
2. God Never Designed Leadership for Entitlement
The Bible says in Proverbs 29:2:
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Scripture did not say:
“When the children of powerful men are in authority.”
God’s concern is:
• righteousness,
• competence,
• wisdom,
• justice,
• humility,
• and service.
Throughout Scripture, God often bypassed established elites:
• David was a shepherd boy,
• Gideon came from a weak family,
• Amos was not from elite circles,
• Peter was a fisherman.
God examines character before pedigree.
This does not mean relatives of politicians are automatically unqualified to lead.
A son, daughter, wife, or relative of a politician may genuinely possess:
• competence,
• vision,
• integrity,
• and leadership ability.
The real problem begins when:
• influence replaces fairness,
• political structures become manipulated,
• delegates are pressured,
• and merit is suppressed to favor inheritance.
Democracy becomes wounded whenever equal opportunity disappears.
3. The Tragedy of Godfatherism and Manipulated Primaries
One of Nigeria’s greatest political diseases is godfatherism.
Many candidates emerge from party primaries not because they possess:
• vision,
• competence,
• integrity,
• sacrifice,
• or public credibility,
but because they:
• belong to influential families,
• control financial structures,
• possess political godfathers,
• or enjoy elite backing.
As a result:
• loyalty to godfathers replaces loyalty to citizens,
• governance becomes investment recovery,
• public treasury becomes compensation machinery,
• and corruption deepens.
When primary elections lose fairness, democracy loses credibility.
And when leadership becomes family inheritance, national development suffers.
The danger is not merely political.
It creates psychological frustration among citizens who begin to believe:
“The system is permanently rigged.”
Once citizens lose confidence in fairness, democracy itself becomes fragile.
4. The Poor Suffer While Political Families Expand Power
This remains one of Nigeria’s painful contradictions:
Citizens tighten their belts while political elites tighten their grip on power.
The masses endure:
• fuel hardship,
• inflation,
• insecurity,
• failing healthcare,
• unstable electricity,
• and poor education.
Yet political influence continues circulating:
• from father to son,
• husband to wife,
• brother to brother,
• and dynasty to dynasty.
Meanwhile, many competent Nigerians remain excluded from leadership opportunities.
A nation cannot maximize its potential when:
• merit is buried beneath connection,
• competence is sacrificed for loyalty,
• and opportunity is reserved for a privileged few.
No society grows healthy when talented citizens believe their future has already been blocked by elite inheritance.
5. The Church Must Speak Truth
The church must be careful not to become an extension of political propaganda.
Many politicians suddenly become deeply religious during election periods through:
• huge donations,
• front-row seats,
• public thanksgiving,
• and dramatic displays of spirituality.
But the critical questions remain:
• Where is justice?
• Where is accountability?
• Where is compassion for suffering citizens?
The prophet Isaiah warned in Isaiah 1:23:
“Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.”
Silence in the face of injustice is dangerous.
True spiritual leadership must defend:
• righteousness,
• truth,
• justice,
• accountability,
• and the oppressed above political access or financial benefit.
6. A Warning to Nigeria
Any nation where:
• power circulates endlessly among the same elites,
• corruption becomes protected,
• primary elections become manipulated,
• institutions become weak,
• and competence is sacrificed,
will eventually face:
• public anger,
• division,
• instability,
• distrust,
• and loss of national confidence.
Young people become frustrated when they believe:
• the system is rigged,
• merit no longer matters,
• and leadership opportunities belong only to connected families.
That frustration can produce:
• political apathy,
• brain drain,
• social unrest,
• and dangerous national polarization.
A democracy cannot remain healthy when citizens stop believing in fairness.
7. The Need for Institutional Reforms
Nigeria must strengthen democratic institutions if genuine democracy is to survive.
Political parties must reform their primary election systems through:
• transparent delegate selection,
• credible internal voting processes,
• reduction of money politics,
• independent monitoring,
• and enforcement of party rules.
There must also be:
• stronger electoral accountability,
• civic education,
• youth political inclusion,
• and protection against candidate imposition.
Democracy cannot survive merely through slogans.
It survives through:
• fairness,
• transparent institutions,
• equal opportunity,
• and accountability.
If internal party democracy collapses, national democracy eventually suffers.
8. Hope for Nigeria
Despite everything, Nigeria still has hope.
God can still raise:
• principled leaders,
• courageous youths,
• truthful institutions,
• and citizens committed to justice.
But Nigerians must reject:
• blind tribal loyalty,
• vote-buying,
• political worship,
• ethnic manipulation,
• and the normalization of political inheritance.
Leadership must return to:
• service,
• integrity,
• competence,
• accountability,
• sacrifice,
• and genuine democracy.
Primary elections must once again reflect the true will of the people rather than the will of political dynasties.
Conclusion:
Beloved, Nigeria does not belong to political dynasties alone.
The nation belongs to:
• the market woman,
• the struggling student,
• the unemployed graduate,
• the farmer,
• the artisan,
• and every honest citizen praying for a better future.
Political office is not inheritance.
It is responsibility before God and the people.
Democracy, according to Abraham Lincoln, is government of the people, by the people, and for the people — not government of political families, by godfathers, and for elite preservation.
When primary elections are manipulated to favor inheritance over merit, democracy is wounded.
May God heal Nigeria.
May God expose corruption.
May God strengthen justice.
May God reform our institutions.
May God raise leaders who fear Him and genuinely serve the people.
For when selfish men inherit power without accountability, the nation mourns — but when justice reigns, the people rejoice.