Criminal Politics: Violence, “Godfathers” and Corruption in Nigeria

a long-line of would-be supplicants. Adedibu’s every word brought nods or cheers
from those who crowded around to listen, and several people who walked across his
field of vision immediately prostrated themselves as a gesture of deference when he
glanced up in their general direction.
Adedibu flaunts his political power quite openly, telling Human Rights Watch that, “I
sponsor them, all of the politicians [in the state.]” 161 Oyo’s current governor,
Christopher Alao-Akala, is a protégé of Adedibu’s and told Human Rights Watch that
“Chief Adedibu has sponsored everybody. Everybody who is who and who in Oyo
State politics has passed through that place [Adedibu’s compound in Ibadan].” 162
Adeolu Adeleke, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly until April 2007,
eventually became an opponent of Adedibu’s but confirmed that he had initially
obtained his sponsorship in order to get elected. “I did go to Baba and he did
sponsor me,” he said. “I believed I could not do anything contrary to him. Some of
my colleagues [in the House] also went to him.” 163
Adedibu’s power flows primarily from his tremendous ability to mobilize violence
and money in support of the politicians he sponsors. He also distributes cash and
food to supplicants on a daily basis from his Ibadan home, a brand of patronage
frequently referred to as “amala politics,” after a traditional dish common to
Nigeria’s southwest. 164
Many residents of Oyo prefer to use harsher terminology. As former PDP Senator
Lekan Balogun put it: “He is notorious. He threatens people he wants to have vote
for [his candidates] with machetes. His stock in trade is blackmail, violence and
intimidation and everyone knows it.” 165
161 Human Rights Watch interview with Chief Adedibu, Ibadan, February 7, 2007.
162 Human Rights Watch interview with Christopher Alao-Akala, Ibadan, February 10, 2007.
163 Human Rights Watch interview with Adeolu Adeleke, Ibadan, February 9, 2007.
164 See Estelle Shirbon, “Democracy in Nigeria: Godfathers, Guns and Graft,” Reuters, April 2, 2007,
http://africa.reuters.com/nigeriaelection/features/news/usnL02200107.html (accessed July 12, 2007).
165 Human Rights Watch interview with Lekan Balogun, Ibadan, February 9, 2007. See also Akeeb Alarape, “SSS Threatens to
Arrest Adedibu,” Daily Sun, January 22, 2007, quoting Senator Balogun as stating that, “I am demanding that Adedibu be
arrested and Prosecuted. Ditto Tokyo. The two were the arrowhead of the attack against me.”
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Human Rights Watch October 2007