Governors in Nigeria usually aim for higher posts after completing their second term.
Most of the time, they retire to the Senate, some contest for Vice President, some run for top party positions while the very influential ones contest for the number one post in the country (President). This year alone, several Governors (past and present) eyeing the post of President contested the primaries of their party. Some of them include: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) among others. However, all of them lost out in the race for the ticket.
On the other hand, two past Governors won the presidential tickets of their parties. They are Peter Obi from Anambra State, Labour Party, LP and Rabiu Kwankwaso from Kano State, the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP and they would try their luck in the 2023 Presidential election. This article will discuss the only two former Governors that succeeded in becoming the President of the country even as others still try their luck to win the exalted post.
(1). Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: The late Yar’Adua was the Governor of Kastina State in the North West. Apart from being a very popular and performing Governor then, Yar’Adua was lucky to receive the backing of the then out-going President Olusegun Obasanjo who wielded great influence in the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Eventually, Yar’Adua won the PDP presidential ticket and emerged the President during the 2007 election.
(2). Goodluck Jonathan: He was another lucky former Governor that later became President of Nigeria. He was the Governor of Bayelsa State years ago. His good fortune started when he became the running mate and later the Vice President to Yar’Adua. After the death of Yar’Adua in May 2010, Jonathan was sworn in as the next President in line with the constitutional provision. He went ahead to win the post in 2011 presidential election.
Unfortunately for him, Jonathan lost the post in 2015 after Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, won the election. Since then, no other former Governor has succeeded in winning the post. Will Obi and Kwankwaso change the game in 2023?
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