Politics, with its peculiar dynamics in Nigeria has, indeed, proved that no empire reigns forever. Over the years, every administration has always come up with new leaders and power brokers. The trend is like, “soja go, soja come,” a movement common with soldiers in military barracks.

Olusegun Obasanjo
Since president Umaru Yar’Adua’s inauguration on May 29, last year, the pendulum has continued to swing between the old power brokers and new ones.

While many of those who called the shots in the last administration still bask in the euphoria of their perceived relevance, the emerging gladiators grapple with efforts to gain recognition. Observers believe that it would not be long before the winners of the supremacy battle, finally emerge.
But from inception, Yar’Adua had shown that he wanted to be his own man contrary to the fears nursed by many people.

The signs of his stuff came when he reversed some policies of his predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the man who single handedly installed him at the chagrin of many a more qualified aspirants within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Many saw the development as a slap on the face of Obasanjo and the beginning of his fall. As if that was not enough, the real proof that power has left the former president happened in quick succession. First, he battled in vain to save the job of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, as little known Integrity Group within the party in the House called his bluff and against all appeal for decorum, installed their own man, Dimeji Bankole.

Then, at the recent national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obasanjo’s preferred candidates for the positions of chairman and secretary, Dr sam Egwu and Senator Tunde Ogbeha respectively, lost to their opponents. For many, the only thing remaining of Obasanjo’s influence is his occupation of the chairmanship seat of his party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). Even at that, there are moves to get him out of the seat. The argument though, is that the position is merely ceremonial and may no longer give him the leverage to sustain his fast fading influence on the polity.

Tony Anenih
Another power broker whose influence is on the downward slope is Chief Tony Anenih, the immediate past BoT chairman of the party. Since 1999, the man popularly known as, “Mr. fix it” has remained relevant until lately. Many believe that the successes recorded by the party since 1999 were possible because of the sheer ingenuity of the former police officer .Equally, his home state of Edo was like his kitchen and he determined who occupied what position all these years.
But Anenih’s empire seems to be crumbling since the election of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as the governor of Edo state
The governor, whose election was recently upturned by the governorship election petition tribunal in the state, fell out with Anenih, not long after he was elected. The cold war between them climaxed during the state congresses of the party. After the fight, the former police officer for the first time lost out in the state’s power equation. His efforts to gain relevance with a parallel party structure also failed to achieve results.
First, his woes started with his removal as the czar of politics in Edo state. But the old horse is said to be close to the new government and executive members of the PDP. Many believe that he is at the twilight of his political career.

Ibori, Odili
In the south-south zone where Anenih hails from, one other gladiator whose fortunes are on the plunge is the immediate past governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori. Before president Yar’Adua’s emergence, Ibori had a towering image with many thinking that he would be a major power broker in the present administration. Having supported immensely in the election of the president, the expectation was that Yar’Adua would be compelled to compensate him. That seemed not to have happened and Ibori’s woes got compounded with his alleged involvement in money laundry and other financial frauds.
The same fate also befell the immediate past governor of Rivers state, Dr Peter Odili. Before now, the former governor of the oil rich state, was a major influence in Nigeria and particularly the PDP. The anti-climax of his influence was his failure to win the presidential primaries of his party last year. To make matters worse, his estranged political associate, Rotimi Amaechi was declared winner of the state’s governorship election by the Supreme Court and ordered to be sworn in. The apex court held that Sir Celestine Omehia, hyis last minute substitute, was not thye party’s candidate.

Bode George
Another power broker, who is also battling to retain his relevance in the PDP is chief Olabode George. He was the immediate past national deputy chairman of the PDP in the south. He became prominent in the ruling party during and after the 2003 general election. The ruling party won governorship elections in all the south-west states except Lagos. In 2007, the PDP repeated the same feat and lost Lagos to the Action Congress (AC), again.
With new executives taking over from George and others, his days of acting as the lord of the manor in the party in the south west are numbered. To strengthen this fear, the new chairman of the PDP, prince Vincent Ogbulafor kicked him out of the Peoples Democratic Institute(PDI).

Ahmadu Ali
Also, among those whose political empires are gradually crumbling is the immediate past chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali. Despite being made an ambassador by the present administration, many believe that ambassadorial postings are like sending one to political exile and oblivion. His wife, who lost the last senatorial election in her state, was also removed from the Board of the PDI. Such a development was unthinkable when he superintended over the ruling party. It will be recalled that Ali had, before the expiration of his tenure, ordered the speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, out of a caucus meeting of key PDP leaders .He later apologized to the House at the heat of the controversy generated by the action.

Observers argue that the removal of his wife from the PDI was a clear sign that power has slipped out of his hands .The dissolution of the Board of the research-based centre of the PDP, analysts contend, may prove to be the first action to point the direction the new PDP’s leadership will take. According to this school of thought, it will also be used to test Ogbulafor’s capacity to pilot the affairs of the party.

Ubas
Since the emergence of Yar’Adua, the former personal assistant to Obasanjo, Dr. Andy Uba has equally suffered a measure of loss of relevance. His downfall started when his election as the governor of Anambra state was upturned by the Supreme Court. The apex court had returned governor Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on the grounds that he was yet to exhaust his four year tenure mandate spelt out in the constitution.

Efforts by Uba to reverse the decision failed, hence, he has remained at the background in the politics of his state. Having lost his position in the state and with his mentor, Obasanjo, gradually losing grounds, only a miracle will bring him back to reckoning.

It is the same fate that befell his younger brother, Chief Chris Uba, who once dictated the tune of politics in Anambra. The controversial politician who was a member of the PDP Board of trustees has suddenly become a minion in the ruling party’s power equation.
From one state to the other, the story is the same for many of those who called the shots in the last administration.

Analysts argue that under Yar’Adua, there may not be a preponderance of power brokers as in Obasanjo’s government. The argument is that the former Katsina state governor is more civil, hence, does not encourage any of his aides to become unduly influential.