List of Prominent Nigerian Politicians Whose Children Turned against Them

Politics sometimes does not respect family institutions, as children are seen going against their fathers publicly to pursue their political ambitions. In Nigeria, some influential politicians have become victims of their children coming after them publicly and tactically challenging their statuesque.

Legit.ng journalist Bada Yusuf is an accomplished politics and current affairs editor, boasting over seven years of experience in journalism and writing.

Recently, Abdulazeez Ganduje, the son of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, went against his father publicly.

On Wednesday, April 24, the young Ganduje visited the Kano state anti-corruption and public complaints commission office to express his support for the agency's move against his father.

His visit came barely 24 hours after the chair of the anti-graft agency, Muhuyi Magaji, disclosed that the commission was probing a new case of N51 billion allegedly diverted under Ganduje's administration.

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Earlier, the commission filed a criminal charge against the immediate past governor of Kano over bribery allegations of $413,000 and N1.38 billion.

According to the anti-graft agency, at least 15 witnesses have been assembled to speak against the APC national chairman.

Abdulazeez, the first son of the former governor of Kano state, reportedly visited the commission to express his support for the investigation into his father, mother, and brother.

Recall that in 2021, Abdulazeez petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Hafsat Ganduje, his mother, over land fraud and bribery allegations.

However, the case of Abdulazeez Ganduje going against his father publicly was not the first of its kind.

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Below is a list of high-ranking politicians whose children went against them publicly:

Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello's bashing letter to ex-President Obasanjo

Iyabo, the first child of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, allegedly wrote a scathing letter to his father after the latter's critical open letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013.

In the letter, the former senator allegedly accused the former president of having an egoistic craving for power and lives where people of low esteem and intellect thrive.

The 11-page letter was titled "Open Letter to my Father" and was dated December 16, 2013. The former senator alleged that the former president orchestrated a third-term bid for himself as Nigerian president.

She accused Obasanjo of being cruel to family members, abandoning his children and grandchildren and that her father has a reputation for maltreating women.

Iyabo vowed that she would never have any political engagement in Nigeria and denied the claim that her move against her father was politically motivated.

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She said Nigeria is a place where her father and his contemporaries have helped create a situation where capable and smart people would have to bend to imbeciles for survival.

The former president's daughter specifically recalled her experience as the chairperson of the senate committee on health. She had led the committee on an appropriately budgeted retreat but was prosecuted for it.

However, the former senator immediately denied being the author of the letter.

The dilemma of the Saraki dynasty

Former Senate president Bukola Saraki publicly opposed his late father, Olusola Saraki, who had wanted his sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, to succeed him as governor of Kwara state.

Senator Saraki opposed his father's decision and campaigned against him in the 2011 governorship election in Kwara state.

The former senate president was said to have humiliated his father in the election process.

Bukola Saraki's refusal to allow his sister to step in his shoes forced their father to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), where Gbemi was the governorship candidate.

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Abdul Fatai Ahmed, the candidate of the Saraki and PDP, emerged victor in the election, while other ACPN candidates were also defeated in the poll.

Obasanjo's wife blasts former president

Legit.ng earlier reported that Taiwo, the estranged wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had said the former Nigerian leader was a wicked husband when they were together.

According to the former president's wife, Obasanjo once prostrated for her in the bedroom and cried when she left him.

The woman who had two children for the former president said Obasanjo is the only ex-leader who criticised all presidents, telling him to learn from other heads of state.

Source: Legit.ng