I am not aware of a precedent in the Yoruba traditional governance model in which a Kingmaker was able to transition from that position to that of a King. I am not aware that there is such a pathway in any of the Yoruba governance models that allows for transmutation from Kingmaker to King. Afobaje ki j’Oba, we are told.
Under the different Western governance models we have adopted over time in our country, the tradition has been one of Kings at sub-national level, after their tenure, becoming Kingmakers, not vice-versa. We have a long list of Kings who either aspired, pretended to be, or actually became Kingmakers, to different degrees of success or control in their new offices.
Tinubu delivering inaugural speech
Making that transition from Kingmaker to King is not only unusual, it is obviously not an easy accomplishment to make.
There have been also a few instances in our political history in which some have become Kingmakers, even when they had never at any time served as Kings. They simply carved thrones for themselves, dominating their domains through a shrewd manipulation of the political terrain. Lamidi Adedibu in Oyo was one. Chris Uba was another. He would eventually attempt to wrest power and become a King in Anambra, however failing in his quest.
Making that transition from Kingmaker to King is not only unusual, it is obviously not an easy accomplishment to make. We have had some attempts by Kings who became Kingmakers over their domains, seeking to leverage upon their history and influence to become King over the land of Nigeria.
Only time will tell if having a Kingmaker transition into a King will become as historic in heralding a defining change of fortune for country as it is for its political history.
By my reckoning, none of the Kingmakers that had sought to be Kings ever succeeded in becoming one. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua is one of such. Hard to find godfathers who made it to the throne. Perhaps it is because none of those Kingmakers had as rich a pedigree, depth of political experience, vast network and adequate preparation at the time of their run as the Kingmaker who has now emerged King. Well, what about Yar’Adua? Well, then there is the bit about the grace of right timing or good fortune.
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None of the post-1999 Kingmakers have exercised influence beyond their immediate domain like the current King. None can lay claim to have been fundamentally instrumental to the emergence of a President like the Kingmaker. In other words, there has never been a Kingmaker like this one, which might be one reason why he was able to defy history, tradition and the huge odds on his way to make the transition from Kingmaker to King.
Only time will tell if having a Kingmaker transition into a King will become as historic in heralding a defining change of fortune for country as it is for its political history.
