11 Political Wars Between Governors and Ex-Governors Across States

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Though they reportedly circumvented popular wishes to enthrone their anointed godsons as governors, most former helmsmen are lamenting installing incumbent chief executives who are now at daggers drawn with them.

Most of them are currently battling with life survival and political relevance in the state and federal levels with little or no attention accorded to them by their successors. Instead, the Economic Crimes and Financial Commission is bearing his torch light on their administrations and time in office as some of them are yet to grip of their fate after office.


Kano: Kwankwaso vs Ganduje

Kano State made history in the current political dispensation with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje emerging as the only deputy to succeed his immediate boss. He was a loyal deputy of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

It was widely believed that Kwankwaso could never have found a more loyal follower than Ganduje, who served the two terms with him and carrying the ‘Kwankwasiyya’ philosophy with a red cap to signify followership.
Though the rift between the two seemed settled, their ‘war’ of attrition recorded the most violent incidents leading to the loss of lives and wanton destruction of property.

Lagos: Fashola vs Ambode
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his predecessor, Babatunde Fashola have largely maintained their differences. However, it is unclear if issues bordering on mistrust between the pair have been duly addressed. It is on record that Fashola did not support Ambode’s emergence because the incumbent is known to be a political godson of ex-governor Bola Tinubu, who was also Fashola’s predecessor.

Ambode eventually won the party’s nomination. Fashola, in order not to rock the boat, grudgingly supported Ambode. Yet, the bad blood did not completely ease out as there were swift overturn of certain policies of Fashola by Ambode on resumption of office.
Also, some disgusting revelations about Fashola’s controversial award of contracts like the N78 million website development and the over N100 million allocation for the dredging of two boreholes in the Alausa Government House, were seen as part of strategies, hatched to subdue the ego of the ex-governor.

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Cross River: Imoke vs Ayade

Though former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, has not come out openly to say it, he is said to have expressed regret over the performances of Senator Benedict Ayade whom it was believed he made to succeed him.
Imoke is unhappy that Ayade is no longer taking directives from him and carrying on as if he (Imoke) does not matter anymore. The incumbent's loyalists however, say Imoke was demanding for too much from Ayade, especially on issues bordering on contracts and political patronage.

Rivers: Amaechi vs Wike
The problem between Governor Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi, now minister of transportation bordered on their irreconcilable differences on who should call the shots on the soul of Rivers State politics. The once close political allies went their separate ways prior to the 2015 general elections and ever since have maintained a cat and mouse relationship.

Katsina: Shema vs Masari

Hostilities in Katsina State between ex-governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of the PDP and Governor Aminu Bello Masari of the APC surfaced shortly after the handing over formalities. The incumbent who was a PDP member before defecting to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the parties that merged to form the APC, announced immediately on assumption of office that he met an empty treasury and a debt of N42 billion.

But the former governor described the allegations as a witch-hunt meant to taint his reputation.

Benue: Suswam vs Ortom

The inability of former governor Gabriel Suswam to support the emergence of his successor, Samuel Ortom on the platform of the PDP in the 2015 general elections laid the foundation of the bitter rivalry between the two.

Ortom later defected to the APC and has vowed to jail his predecessor for allegedly defrauding the state. Suswam, who is accused of siphoning N48 billion in local government funds, is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Plateau: Jang vs Lalong

The heat between Governor Simon Lalong of the APC and his predecessor Jonah David Jang of the PDP was stoked mainly by the alleged N104 billion debt left for the new administration. Jang was accused of misuse of public funds having piloted the affairs of the state for eight years.
There was an outcry by a group loyal to Lalong in court alleging a N400 billion debt profile, which prompted a response from Jang’s side owning up to a debt profile of only N18 billion.

Niger: Aliyu vs Bello
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of the APC emerged against formidable impediments of his predecessor Dr. Muazu Babaginda Aliyu of the PDP.

Bello who defeated the youngest governorship candidate at the general elections and Aliyu’s candidate, Umar Mohammed Nasko, on assumption of office, asked for the immediate refund of the N2.9 billion allegedly obtained illegally by the past government on the eve of its departure.
Aliyu reportedly left a debt of N57 billion, prompting the house of assembly to direct Bello to probe how his predecessor managed the state’s resources during his eight years tenure.

Bauchi: Yuguda vs Abubakar
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of the APC accused his predecessor Isa Yuguda of the PDP of “destroying” the state. He said apart from leaving an empty treasury, the ex-governor also left a debt of N125 billion in addition to unpaid salary arrears.

He pointedly asked Yuguda to account for the sum of N825 billion received by his administration, vowing to employ all measures to trace funds and property allegedly looted during the former governor’s tenure and recover same.
There was also the controversial issue of the state’s private jet and its alleged ‘detention’ in Morocco.

Kogi: Wada vs Bello

All seems not to be rosy between Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his predecessor, Capt. Idris Wada of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), especially as the latter is accused of maladministration and siphoning of public funds. Bello had recently engaged an independent consultant who probed the various contracts awarded by the past administration with the report revealing a lot of infractions and shady deals perpetrated under the Wada administration.

Kebbi: Dakinggari vs Bagudu

Governor Atiku Bagudu shared a similar fate with his Niger State counterpart against his predecessor Saidu Nasamu Dakingari.

Dakingari of the PDP fell out with many of his party chieftains prior to the party’s primaries. He also publicly declared he would never hand over to Bagudu, who was then in the PDP. Bagudu lost the party’s primaries and 24 hours later defected to the APC where he emerged the governorship candidate. He later won the election and has since been at loggerheads with his predecessor.
 
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